Speaker suspends Congress MLAs for a day

Gandhinagar, 2 July, 2014

Gujarat Assembly Speaker Vaju Vala Wednesday suspended all the Congress MLAs present in the House expect two(Shankersinh and Shaktisinh), for a day after they indulged in sloganeering on the issue of their demand for a discussion on water situation in the state on second day of budget session today afternoon.

Leader of Opposition in the House, Shankarsinh Vaghela raised the demand of opposition for a discussion on the issue of situation that has arisen out of delayed monsoon after his application moved earlier today seeking discussion on the drought like situation was rejected by the Speaker.

“A grim situation has developed in the state due to delay in rains. The government which knows about it has not made any provision in the budget presented yesterday. We would like to have discussion on the issue in the house,” he told the House.

Vala, however, said since the application on the subject was rejected, no discussion can take place on the issue now.

However, Vaghela insisted for a discussion after which, Congress MLAs stood up at their places and started shouting slogans against the government.

Even as Congress leaders Vaghela and Shaktisinh Gohil took their seats, other MLAs continued shouting slogans not heeding to Speaker’s request to maintain decorum in the House.

Vala suspended all the Congress MLAs who were standing and shouting slogans against the government for a day and ordered marshalls to evict them from the House. The number of MLAs suspended was around 40.

The decision of the Speaker further infuriated the Opposition MLAs who rushed to the well of the House shouting slogans and throwing papers of question and answer booklets forcing Marshalls to evict them.

Vaghela and Gohil were not suspended as they were sitting but later walked out of the House in protest against the action of Speaker.

While addressing the media, Shankersinh Vaghela said: We requested Speaker to consider our demand under rule-108 for discussion on the issue of drought situation prevailing in the state. Earlier Congress whip’s notice under rule-116 was rejected and therefore we demanded discussion under rule-108, but we were denied permission. BJP govt doesn’t consider this drought situation important at all. In entire budget, there was not a word mentioning drought. There’s no advance planning for drown. It’s like when fire breaks out, a person goes to dig well to fetch water. Nothing including the disaster management has been planned. Government has no details available even in regarding tankers.

On the other hand, state govt spokesperson minister Nitin Patel said:Congress MLAs will be able to give their suggestions during the discussion of various concerned departments including Agriculture and Water supply. There has not been the situation of drought in Gujarat as per the Revenue department rules as of now. We expect that monsoon should start on 20 June. The rain is delayed by 12 days. The state government concerned about the situation of delayed rain and Chief Minister had called a meeting also last week for fodder, water supply, relief works, water supply through tanker etc. Such a planning has been done and state government keeps its watch over it.