Rajasthan Assembly Sees Overnight Protest by Suspended Congress MLAs
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Synopsis
In a dramatic turn of events, six Congress MLAs suspended during the Rajasthan Assembly's Budget Session staged an overnight protest in the Well of the House. They demanded an apology from the BJP government for remarks made regarding late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, showcasing their determination to defend their stance.
Key Takeaways
- Six Congress MLAs were suspended during the Rajasthan Assembly's Budget Session.
- They protested overnight in the Well of the House.
- Their protest was sparked by remarks made by Minister Avinash Gehlot.
- Congress leaders condemned the suspension and demanded an apology.
- Social media was utilized to voice their stance against the government.
New Delhi, Feb 22 (NationPress) Six Congress MLAs, who faced suspension for the remainder of the Rajasthan Assembly's Budget Session on Friday, staged an overnight protest in the Well of the House, determined to remain despite their suspension.
The suspended lawmakers include Rajasthan Congress President Govind Singh Dotasra, Deputy Leader of Opposition Ramkesh Meena, along with Amin Kagzi, Zakir Hussain Gesawat, Hakeem Ali Khan, and Sanjay Kumar Jatav. Their protest drew support from fellow Congress members, showcasing their resistance against what they labeled an unjust suspension.
The Assembly erupted into disarray on Friday after Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Avinash Gehlot made a controversial statement regarding the late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi while addressing a question about accommodations for working women.
He remarked, "In the 2023-24 budget as well, like always, you named the scheme after your 'dadi' (grandmother) Indira Gandhi." This prompted fierce backlash from the Congress, with Leader of Opposition Tika Ram Jully demanding the removal of what he referred to as an inappropriate term from the records.
Congress MLAs erupted in protest, chanting slogans and rushing to the Well of the House, insisting on an apology.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Jogaram Patel defended the statement, claiming there was nothing unparliamentary about calling Indira Gandhi 'dadi'. The disruptions resulted in the House being adjourned three times. Upon resuming at 4 P.M., the chaos continued, leading Chief Whip Jogeshwar Garg to suggest the suspension of the protesting MLAs.
Speaker Vasudev Devnani accepted the motion and ordered their suspension for the remainder of the session.
Despite the suspension, the six Congress MLAs remained in the House overnight, staging a dramatic protest.
Zakir Hussain Gesawat shared on social media platform X, declaring, "Tonight, in the Assembly! A powerful voice for public interest! We will resist any attempt to silence your voice and stand firmly on every issue!"
Congress leader Sachin Pilot also criticized the suspensions, asserting that the BJP government was attempting to silence the Opposition.
On X, he stated, "A minister from the BJP government made a comment about late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, which was rightly condemned by Congress MLAs, including Leader of Opposition @TikaRamJullyINC."
He further demanded an apology from the BJP and urged the government to retract the minister's statement and restore the suspended MLAs.
