WATCH: 'Royal Rumble' or Maldives Parliament? MPs kick, punch and wrestle each other during a key session
Chaos broke out in the Maldives parliament on Sunday as rival lawmakers clashed and engaged in an all-out battle inside the parliament.
New Delhi: No, it's not a WWE ring with wrestlers kicking and throwing each other around, but chaotic scenes from the Maldives Parliament where rival lawmakers clashed during an important House of Representatives session.
Dramatic footage shared on social media sites showed Maldivian parliamentarians kicking, punching and wrestling each other to the ground after disagreements over a key vote for President Muizzu's government.
The clashes were witnessed between the MPs of the People's National Congress (PNC) and the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) – the ruling alliance and the Opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).
Chaotic images of the battle have gone viral on social media platforms.
In one video, MDP MP Isa and PNC MP Abdullah Shaheem Abdul Hakeem are engaged in a full-blown street fight, kicking and pulling each other's hair. Shaheem is seen grabbing Isa's leg as both MPs fall to the ground, where rain blows on each other as others try to pull them apart.
lithicum nétiodioclient lithicum lithicum pic.twitter.com/mnmzvYKsrO
— Adhadhu (@AdhadhuMV) January 28, 2024
lithicum lithicum lithicum lithic pic.twitter.com/1yv0wCNEAP
— Adhadhu (@AdhadhuMV) January 28, 2024
Another viral video showed Isa kicking Shaheem's neck and pulling his hair. Later, Shaheem is pushed out of the area by other members, the video showed.
lithicum nétiodioclient lithicum lithicum pic.twitter.com/mnmzvYKsrO
— Adhadhu (@AdhadhuMV) January 28, 2024
The videos shared on social media by Adhadhu – a male-based online news channel – showed the parliamentarians pulling each other off the stage.
In one video, Shaheem is seen blowing a toy trumpet while standing next to the Speaker, before being tackled and pulled off the stage.
The videos coming out of the Maldives Parliament today are insane 😂 pic.twitter.com/aSWf9q5GZo
— Cow Mom (@Cow__Momma) January 28, 2024
=According to local media reports, an important vote on the parliamentary approval of the Muizzu government was scheduled for today at 1:30 p.m. However, several PNC members barricaded the House and disrupted the session.
Dramatic footage from the Maldives Parliament as opposition MPs are prevented from entering the floor of Parliament until Muizzu's Cabinet is cleared by Parliament. The vote was supposed to take place today, but the opposition has some reservations about Muizzu's cabinet. pic.twitter.com/IunpHKxZ3P
— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) January 28, 2024
The protesters said accepting the ministers would hinder progress as they demanded the speaker of parliament resign.
The ruling coalition parties, the PNC and the PPP, released a statement portraying the ministers' refusal as an obstacle to the delivery of public services, Adhadhu said.
However, Chief Advisor to Muizzu and PNC Chairman Abdul Raheem Abdullah stated that the ministers have the right to be reappointed even if they are not qualified.
He criticized the refusal to approve the ministers as irresponsible.
Recently, two opposition parties in the Maldives took action against the current regime for its 'stark' anti-India stance.
The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and Democrats jointly released a joint press statement, labeling the shift in foreign policy as “extremely damaging” to the country's long-term development.
(With ANI inputs)