Assembly or Akhada?

From the scuffle between rival party members to the storming of the Well of the House and even an attempted manhandling of marshals, the events have shaken public confidence in legislative propriety.

- Ahmad Ayaz

Assemblies and Parliament are not about muscle power. They are meant to represent the will of the people, frame laws, and hold the government accountable. These institutions are platforms for open debate, discussion, and informed decision-making on issues that shape our collective future.

They uphold democratic governance by checking executive overreach, allocating public resources, and safeguarding the rights and interests of the people. The strength of these institutions lies not in noise or aggression, but in the calibre, vision, and knowledge of those who occupy them.

Yet, over the last three days, what the people have witnessed in the J&K Assembly is nothing short of a dangal. Physical assaults by legislators, verbal chaos, and disorderly conduct have taken center stage. From the scuffle between rival party members to the storming of the Well of the House and even an attempted manhandling of marshals, the events have shaken public confidence in legislative propriety. Time that should have been used to address critical public issues has been squandered. Precious hours and taxpayer money have been wasted in theatrics rather than in thoughtful legislation.

When shouting matches, personal barbs, and physical scuffles take over, the sanctity of these institutions is eroded. The Assembly begins to resemble an akhada a wrestling pit—where the goal seems to be domination, not deliberation.