Srinagar, Sep 30: Independent MLA Mehraj Malik was marshalled out of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on Wednesday after he entered the Well of the House while seeking to raise a point on the regulation of social media.
The incident occurred as the House moved on to the next question following a discussion on regulating unregistered and unregulated social media news platforms.
Malik sought the Speaker’s permission to speak on the issue, but after he was not allowed to intervene, he entered the Well and objected to any move to restrict social media.
“Nobody can impose a ban on social media. The journalism you are talking about is over. You have to pay them for highlighting an issue. Social media is a powerful tool,” Malik said.
As Malik continued speaking from the Well, Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather directed Assembly security personnel to marshal him out of the House.
“He is unnecessarily making noise,” the Speaker said while ordering his removal.
The incident came amid a heated discussion in the Assembly over the proposed New Media Policy, 2026, under which the government has said provisions would be introduced for the registration and regulation of online news platforms.
The government has also proposed mechanisms for district administrations to maintain databases of unregistered social media news handles and said action could be taken under existing laws against the dissemination of false or misleading information.
