Congress MLAs suspended for a day in Gujarat assembly

The MLAs demanded a discussion on the drought like situation in the state

All Gujarat Congress MLAs, except two, were today suspended for a day from the state assembly for disrupting the house and demanding discussion on drought like situation in the state even after the Speaker rejected their request for the same. Only leader of the opposition Shankarsinh Vaghela and senior leader Shaktisinh Gohil were spared.

The demand for discussion was raised by the Leader of Opposition Shankarsinh Vaghela in the House after the question hour. However, Speaker Vaju Vala refused to allow discussion on drought like situation, as claimed by the Congress, in the state. Vala said that there was no drought or drought like situation in the state hence he cannot allow the discussion on the issue. Vala had earlier rejected notice given by Vaghela yesterday under rule 116 of the Assembly. Vaghela later issued notice under rule 108 of the Assembly rules for discussion on important issues concerning the state.

That too was rejected by Vala.

Following this Vaghela tried to raise the issue in the assembly despite warning from Vala not to discuss the details of the notice in the house as it was against the rules. This was followed by uproar in the house accompanied with slogan shouting by Congress MLAs. Vaghela claimed that there was severe shortage of drinking water, fodder for cattle in many regions of Gujarat, but still there was no provision in the state budget in this regard. The state government has not bothered to mention how they would tackle the situation, he further alleged.

Despite several attempts Vaghela could not convince the speaker for discussion on the issue. As the Congress MLAs began slogan shouting — ‘declare drought in state’ and ‘let democracy live’ — Vala warned them not to shout slogans in the house and disrupt its proceedings. Since the Congress legislators did not stop shouting Vala suspended all the Congress MLAs accept Vaghela and Gohil, from the house for one day. But as the MLAs refused to go out of the house, Marshalls were called in to take them away.

Later after coming out of the house Vaghela said that the BJP government was not serious about drought like situation prevailing in the state. “They are not ready to accept the fact there there is sever problem of shortage of drinking water, fodder and migration by people in the state,” the former Gujarat chief minister added.

He claimed that assembly will take nearly a month to pass the budget, but till then the people have to suffer in absence of any action plan. Asking the government not be so hard-hearted and insensitive, Vaghela expected some sympathy from ruling party. He also expected that the Speaker Vala who hails from scarcity-hit Saurashtra region show more sensitivity over the issue.