Gandhinagar: Gujarat assembly today witnessed the scenes that have never happened before, said deputy chief minister Nitin Patel who has been in the assembly since early 1990s barring some period to media persons.

Patel was briefing about the scenes of violence and ruckus that took place today in which woman MLA and minister of state in government Nirmalaben Wadhvani suffered injury and had fracture.

According to Nitin Patel, “Congress MLA from Amreli, Paresh Dhanani was allotted 5 minutes to ask question but he took 12 minutes. Agriculture minister Chimanbhai Saparia then stood up for reply. When he started speaking about what was the situation of farmers before 1995 when Congress was in power, Dhanani rushed to him and snatched away the papers in his hand and tried to attack him. There was suddenly huge uproar int he assembly. Congress MLA moved towards treasury benches and started creating ruckus. Sargent had to intervene to remove them from that space. Shaktisinh and Bhupendrasinh came forward and discussed how to cool the situation. Suddenly Congress MLA Baldevji Thakor took a round from the backside of Speaker’s place and started attacking BJP MLAs in which Nirmala Wadhvani and others were injured”

Patel said, “this has never happened in the assembly and it’s a sad day. Congress members can ask questions, criticize the government, use wit, we can understand it all but creating ruckus on this scale and involve into attack, such act by Paresh Dhanani and Baldevji Thakor is a blot. Speaker adjourned the assembly procedure, but even after that Congress MLAs continued to involved themselves into slogan chanting and clash. It’s a sad incident for Gujarat and our parliamentary traditions. Congress is dreaming to disturb the government. Its attempts only aimed at occupying media space. Each member is going to get chance to speak, criticize, making allegations and clarifications.”

Minister of State Nirmala Wadhvani in her media briefing said, “I was standing between first and second row and my focus was on opposite side to center. Baldevbhai suddenly rushed to me and punched me. I lost balance. I had burning sensation and swelling. I have been given pills and injection and I am advised by doctor to go for digital Xray next. The question was aksed by Congress MLA Dhanani regarding farmer’s suicide. Our minister Chimanbhai Saparia was speaking about what was the situation of farmers before 1995. Baldevbhai and others from Congress rushed to our benches and pushed me.”

Wadhvani said, “I am guardian minister for Gandhinagar district and Baldevbhai who is very aggressive even otherwise during our Seva Setu and other programmes had very angry and aggressive face when he rushed to me.”

BJP MLA Vibhavari Dave said, “I am MLA for last ten years. I have never seen this. They had hurled mics in the past. The schene created by Baldevji Thakor was horrific. He came to our women MLA Nirmalaben Wadhvani. Our MLAs Vallabhbhai and Shamjibhai were pushed and removed from their seats. None BJP MLA had gone to seating area of congress. Congress MLAs went to BJP seats. CCTV cameras have recorded it. Barring three senior MLAs, all BJP MLA rushed to treasury benches and created ruckus. We the women MLAs will be able to attend the house only when Baldevji is removed permanently from assembly.

Reacting to this, Congress leader Shaktisinh Gohil said, “we have make recording of CCTV camera footage from our office in assembly complex. Press and media persons were there in gallery. Noone had even touched Nirmalaben as per the footage we have. Paresh Dhanani as Patidar youth was expressing pain of farmers and then two BJP MLAs Praful Panseria and Kanabhai Amrutiya started using abusing words. Pareshbhai went to show the reply given in the assembly in the past to minister. BJP MLAs tried to attack him. Baldevji Thakor who usually never misbehave went to rescue him. He was attacked. There was an attempt to kill him. Our Patidar and Thakor MLAs were attacked. People will take revenge for attack on Patidar and Thakor MLAs.”

During the Congress part of briefing, Baldevji Thakor showed his leg injury covered with bandage while another Congress MLA Gautambhai showed bandage on his hand.

Editor’s note: Gujarat assembly is one assembly which disallows media to capture the procedure inside the house. Now when there are allegations and counter allegations between BJP and Congress over what actually happened today, let the Speaker release footage of video captured by all cameras(all angles) to give clear picture to people. Both Baldevji Thakor and Paresh Dhanani are known for their unnecessary aggression in the assembly in past occasion. It was Dhanani who first rushed to treasury bench was minister was giving reply. This is absolutely unacceptable. Giving this issue a castiest turn by dragging Thakor and Patel communities is very shameful on Shaktisinh’s part.

Update: Paresh Dhanani and Baldevji Thakor are suspended from the house till the end of the budget session by Speaker in response to motion moved by minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama. Speaker declassifies footage and releases it for media. The footage clearly shows rough behavior of Dhanani and Thakor.

DeshGujarat