An attempt to highlight the “lawlessness” in the state led to chaos in the Punjab Assembly on Wednesday.
The opposition Congress legislators hit the marshals, threw bundles of papers at the Speaker, clambered over the watch and ward staff and stood on the Vidhan Sabha secretary’s
chair.
The day’s drama had started with a visit by the woman from Taran Taran — who had been recently assaulted by the police — to the Congress Legislative Party (CLP) office.
The party’s idea was to present her before the media to highlight the breakdown of law and order.
But the woman had been brought without a proper entry pass, and around 10.30am, during the question hour, the Congress MLAs rushed out of the House after hearing of a police “raid” at the CLP office.
The MLAs managed to catch one of the policemen, allegedly manhandled him and confiscated his identity card.
Later, they forced four adjournments protesting against the “raid”. But things came to a head when the assembly proceedings were extended by 30 minutes at 2.30 pm.
The Congress members began with thumping benches and throwing books and papers at the chair. Then they moved en masse towards the Speaker’s podium.
When the marshals appealed for calm, legislator Amarinder Singh Raja Warring clambered over the shoulders of the watch and ward staff, who had created a human wall, and began hitting the marshals. Other Congress MLAs captured the dais.
Amid complete chaos, the house was adjourned till Thursday.
On Thursday, the SAD and the BJP are expected to move a resolution for action against the Congress legislators.
An FIR is to be lodged against the MLAs who thrashed the watch and ward staff and the policemen.