JD (U) dubs suspension of Gujarat MLAs as 'undemocratic'

Hours after the Gujarat Assembly suspended 44 MLAs, the Janata Dal (United) on Tuesday said such an act is not good for democracy.

JD (U) leader Sharad Yadav said suspension is not the solution while insisting that there should be a discussion.

"This is a new trend coming up. A similar incident happened in Tamil Nadu and now it has happened in Gujarat. This is not good for the health of democracy," said Yadav.

"To suspend the people is no solution, to listen to all views and find a way out is democracy. No one can suppress a discussion. The more you try and suppress a topic, the more it comes up," he added.

Gujarat Assembly Speaker Ramanlal Vora earlier in the day suspended all opposition Congress MLAs for a day from the assembly after they refused to end their protest over cow vigilante group members publicly flogging Dalits in Una on July 11 this year.

There was chaos in the state assembly as the Congress MLAs repeatedly trooped into the Well to demand an inquiry into the incident as also a commitment from the BJP-led state government to announce the steps they would be taking to assuage the hurt sentiments of the Dalit community.

Days after the July 11 thrashing, the Dalits were again attacked in Samter village of Una Taluka in Gir Somnath district. The Dalits were returning after participating in Dalit Asmita Yatra in Una town. The mob threw stones on police and Dalits, injuring many. The police had to resort to a baton charge to disperse the rioters.