Why Are Congress Protests Escalating Over 'Jagga Jasoos' Caps and Privacy in Rajasthan Assembly?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Congress MLAs protested against privacy violations in the Rajasthan Assembly.
- The protest was marked by the use of “Jagga Jasoos” caps.
- Leader of Opposition Tika Ram Jully accused the government of spying.
- The Assembly faced multiple adjournments due to the chaos.
- Government defended the cameras as a security measure.
Jaipur, Sep 10 (NationPress) The Rajasthan Assembly erupted in chaos on Wednesday as Congress MLAs staged a protest against the newly installed cameras in the House.
Donning “Jagga Jasoos” caps and chanting slogans like “Stop spying”, the Opposition accused the BJP-led state government of infringing on their privacy and attempting to monitor their confidential discussions.
Under the leadership of the Leader of Opposition (LoP) Tika Ram Jully, Congress MLAs marched from the MLA quarters to the Assembly premises before entering the House.
LoP Jully claimed that the cameras were intentionally positioned on the Opposition benches to surveil their conversations.
“This is not security; this is spying. It is an attack on democracy,” he asserted.
The camera controversy ignited on Tuesday during the Question Hour when LoP Jully was denied the opportunity to pose supplementary questions.
The Assembly was adjourned three times amidst the uproar.
No definitive response came from Assembly Speaker Vasudev Devnani, escalating the Opposition's frustration.
On Wednesday, the topic re-emerged when Government Chief Whip Jogeshwar Garg defended the camera installations, stating, “This is not a bedroom where privacy will be violated. Cameras are for monitoring security and the iPads given to MLAs.”
This statement provoked fierce protests, as Congress MLAs rushed to the Well of the House.
The state government maintains that cameras were installed for surveillance and to protect the electronic devices allocated to legislators.
However, Congress asserts that this measure is designed to intimidate the Opposition.
LoP Jully remarked, “Every activity of Opposition MLAs is being monitored. This is unacceptable.”
The dispute surfaced on the last day of the Monsoon session, which has been characterized by numerous protests and adjournments.
Congress has persistently disrupted proceedings over various issues, including law and order, crop damage due to heavy rains, and the Jhalawar school accident.
Tributes were planned on Wednesday for the children who lost their lives in the Jhalawar school tragedy, alongside the consideration of two significant bills.
Nonetheless, much of the legislative business has stalled as Congress has continued its strategy to challenge the Bhajan Lal Sharma-led BJP government.