Srinagar, July 3: Congress MLA from Bandipora, Nizamuddin Bhat, on Friday alleged that he was attacked by the brother of a National Conference (NC) legislator and his supporters during a public grievance meeting at the Naidkhai Block Office. The allegation has been denied by the NC.
Bhat, who represents the Bandipora Assembly constituency, said he escaped unhurt but accused Jalal Akbar Lone, brother of Sonawari MLA Hilal Akbar Lone, and his supporters of disrupting the public darbar to prevent him from discharging his official duties.
“There is a goon here, Jalaluddin, who has kept some goons,” Bhat said in a video recorded immediately after the incident, referring to Jalal Akbar Lone. “He doesn’t want the MLA to work here.”
Responding to questions about the disturbance, Bhat alleged that the disruption was part of a recurring pattern.
“He is the one who orchestrates this. He orchestrates this,” Bhat said.
Expressing frustration over the political situation, Bhat suggested that residents take their concerns directly to the National Conference leadership.
“They should go meet Omar Abdullah. What else? He is their leader. Meet him,” he said.
Naidkhai Block, which was earlier part of the Sonawari Assembly constituency and is the native area of former MP and Speaker Akbar Lone and his son, sitting Sonawari MLA Hilal Akbar Lone, became part of the Bandipora constituency after the delimitation exercise.
In a brief statement issued later, Bhat reiterated that he had been attacked by Jalal Akbar Lone and his supporters but had escaped without injuries.
However, the allegations were denied by the National Conference.
Sahil Bhat, who identified himself as a close associate of Jalal Akbar Lone, told Greater Kashmir that the altercation began after a local Congress worker allegedly tried to manhandle an NC worker who had raised a critical question during the public meeting.
“The Congress worker initiated the ruckus after one of our workers was allegedly sidelined when he asked a question,” he claimed.
He further alleged that Bhat wanted only Congress workers to remain present at the meeting.
“Jalal came there only to ask his workers to leave the meeting. That’s when the commotion escalated, part of which was captured on a mobile phone,” he said.
He also alleged that Bhat threatened Jalal Akbar Lone in the presence of his Personal Security Officers (PSOs).
The claims made by both sides could not be independently verified.
Meanwhile, MLA Bhat has announced that he will address a press conference later in the day to elaborate on the incident.
