Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 17: As the independent MLA Sheikh Abdul Rashid continued the boycott of Assembly proceedings for second day today over an alleged assault by marshals, Deputy Speaker Nazir Ahmad Gurezi requested him to return to the House, while speaker Kavinder Gupta assured that he would personally talk to the aggrieved Legislator.
“I request Rashid sahib to return to the House. We are here to highlight the public issues and it would not be good to stay out of the House for him, and for his people,” Gurezi said immediately after taking the chair from the Speaker this afternoon.
He said he was “compelled” to request marshalling out of the Legislator from the House yesterday after the latter did not listen to the chair despite being asked to do so repeatedly and continued with the disruption.
Earlier, Gupta said he would personally talk to Rashid to ensure his return to the House.
“Nothing like that (assault on Rashid) had happened. I will personally talk to him,” Gupta said after several members, including CPI(M) M Y Tarigami and Congress Legislator, G A Saroori, raised the issue of alleged roughing up of Rashid by watch and ward staff.
Rashid, who represents the Langate Constituency of Kupwara district, yesterday had alleged that he was assaulted by marshals and a person in civvies after being marshalled out of the House. He had announced to boycott the remaining budget session until the incident was probed.
Soon after the House met today, the members expressed displeasure over the treatment meted out to Rashid but pacified on the assurance of the Speaker.
As the MLA did not end the boycott and returned to the House during second sitting today also the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Abdul Rehman Veeri again made an appeal to Deputy Speaker, Nazir Ahmed Gurezi who was on the Chair at that time and requested him to make an appeal to the MLA for ending the boycott.
The Deputy Speaker informed the House that he has already made an appeal to him earlier in the day but he did not return. Some other MLAs also were of the opinion that the MLA Langate should be appealed to come to the House and represent his Constituency.
However, NC MLA, Mohammed Akbar Lone opposed this vehemently. He also raised Un Parliamentary language against the MLA to which the Deputy Speaker objected.
Later the Deputy Speaker reiterated his appeal to the MLA and asked him to come to the House and represent his Constituency.
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