Gujarat Assembly: Motion on SC/ST quota extension passed unanimously while that regarding CAA passed with majority

Gandhinagar:The single day special session of the Gujarat Assembly concluded today with passage of the motion supporting the 126 th constitution amendment bill for extending the tenure of ST/ST reservation for another 10 years and the one supporting the citizenship (amendment) act 2019 amid chaos and protest by main opposition Congress.

The traditional inaugural address by Governor Acharya Devvrat was also cut short amid protest by congress members inside the house.

When in the last sitting of the house this afternoon, a motion was moved by CM Vijay Rupani supporting CAA and congratulating PM Narendra Modi and HM Amit Shah for it, Congress MLA from Jamalpur seat in Ahmedabad Imran Khedawala started protesting with a placard on which boycott call against NRC,CAA and NPR was written.

A heated argument also took place in the house and speaker Rajendra Trivedi even went on to say that the distinguished member must remember that he was not in Pakistan but in Gujarat assembly. The proceedings of the house was also adjourned for some time.

Leader of opposition Paresh Dhanani opposed the government. The motion was passed with majority.

The first motion about SC/ST reservation was however passed unanimously.

Later state president of the BJP and MLA Jeetu Vaghani told newsmen that Congress has been exposed by its actions in the house today. Minister of State for Home and legislative affairs Pradipsinh Jadeja said that Congress was trying to create confusion about the CAA which was not at all against Indian Muslims. He said that due to this act around 10 thousand persecuted Pakistani Hindus living in Gujarat since before 2014 would also get Indian citizenship. To a query he said that Congress was also trying to mislead people. Raising question about CM Rupani’s citizenship (who was born in erstwhile Burma now Myanmar) was pointless. He had himself clarified that he was an Indian citizen and was having Indian passport.

Earlier talking to the media Rupani had said that the session was convened with just three agenda including the motion to support the 126th amendment of the constitution pertaining to increasing the tenure of reservation to SC and ST community for 10 more years after January 25. As per the article 368 of the constitution, it was required that at least 50 per cent of the state assemblies should support it.

The session however began with Governor’s address as it was the first session of the house this year. In the end, a motion to support the CAA was moved.

Earlier Congress members went in to the well of the house with banners and slogans regarding farmer’s and other issues when Governor Acharya Devvrat was addressing the house. He had to cut short his speech amid chaotic scene in the house.

Later Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Bhupendrasinh Chudasama told reporters that Congress’s conduct was condemnable. They did not allow even the governor to complete his speech. ‘Right from the time when the governor started his speech, Congress was behaving in a way which was quite shameful for a democracy,’ he said.

Leader of opposition Paresh Dhanani on the other hand alleged that the ruling BJP was shying away from the real issues.

Notably, the budget session would be held from February 24 to March 31 and Finance Minster Nitin Patel would table the budget in the house on February 24.

DeshGujarat