Guwahati: In a significant move, the Assam Legislative Assembly’s Special Rights Committee has summoned Baghbar MLA Sherman Ali Ahmed and Rupohihat MLA Nurul Huda to address serious allegations leveled against them. The decision emerged from a special meeting chaired by Siddhartha Bhattacharya, who now leads a newly formed panel tasked with probing the matter thoroughly.

Sherman Ali Ahmed has been given a chance to defend himself against the accusations directed at him, while Nurul Huda has been asked to respond to claims of assaulting Deputy Speaker Nomal Momin. The committee has also directed Momin to provide details on whether others were implicated in the alleged attack. During the discussions, MLA Durga Das Boro accused Sherman Ali of making unfounded statements, further intensifying the scrutiny.

The meeting saw seven of the twelve committee members in attendance. With Panchayat elections looming, no strict timeline has been set for the MLAs’ responses, allowing both an opportunity to present their cases before a final ruling is made. The committee is expected to deliver its findings to the Assembly Speaker in the near future.

Deputy Speaker Nomal Momin, who previously headed the committee, condemned the incidents as a blow to parliamentary decorum. Speaking passionately, he noted that the investigation was launched under Rules 10 and 76 of the Assembly’s guidelines. Momin, who stepped down as committee chair due to his involvement as a complainant, accused Sherman Ali of undermining the Speaker’s office—a charge he deemed intolerable. He insisted that the Assembly must function by established rules, not individual whims, and that the dignity of its leadership must remain intact.

Momin didn’t hold back on Nurul Huda either, referencing video evidence that could reveal additional participants in the alleged assault. He lambasted Sherman Ali’s disruptive conduct during a session, which included using offensive language and displaying placards—actions that led to his removal from the proceedings. Momin likened such behavior to “hijacking” the Assembly, drawing a stark comparison to terrorist acts, and stressed that it disrupted the legislative process.