Guj House: Cong walks out on removal of question on Waqf Board

The Gujarat Congress today staged a walkout from the Assembly during Question Hour on the issue of removal of a question related to the state Waqf Board, after the Opposition alleged that it was done in the last moment at the behest of ruling BJP government.
During the Question Hour today, Congress MLAs raised their objection when Deputy Speaker Atmaram Parmar skipped question no.5 and called out the next question for discussion.
In the printed booklet of questions, it was written that "since the matter raised in the question is sub-judice, it has been removed upon the request of the minister".

The question, which was submitted by Congress MLA Mohammad Javed Peerzada ahead of the session, was related to the sale of property lying under state Waqf board.
When Leader of Opposition Shankersinh Vaghela and senior Congress MLA Shaktisinh Gohil asked Parmar to allow their MLA to raise the question in the House, the Deputy Speaker opined that the question has been removed from the official list upon request by the concerned minister and it is not possible for him to allow that question.
On this, Gohil argued that it is illegal to remove a question once it has been selected and given priority number for discussion in the House.

He also cited a recent circular of Assembly Secretariat, in which, Gohil claimed that it was clearly mentioned that no question can be removed once it is selected after the draw and alloted priority number.

Replying to Gohil, Gujarat Law Minister Pradeepsinh Jadeja claimed that no one can question the decision of Speaker about the selection of questions. Jadeja also claimed that such a circular becomes null and void if it violates the rules which govern the Assembly.
"This question was related to Waqf Board properties and a case is in the court. Since the question has been removed by the Speaker, it is not proper to raise question against this decision. Assembly Rules are above any circular," said Jadeja, who also handles legislative affairs department.

While talking to media, MLA Peerzada alleged that
government intentionally removed his question as it was related to some controversial approvals given by state Waqf Board to sell some of its property, which according to him, is not permitted under the law.
"Waqf Board indulged in corruption by selling various properties, such as crematoriums, shrines and even mosques. Since my question would have exposed the illegal approvals given by Waqf Board to sell these properties, it has been removed on the last moment," Peerzada alleged.
According to Vaghela, such tradition of removing 'uncomfortable' questions was started when Narendra Modi was the Chief Minister in Gujarat.

"Such unethical practices started ever since he (Modi) became the CM in 2001. This is a mockery of the system. The Speaker is supposed to protect the rights of each member of the House. But it seems that Speaker only protects the ruling party members," Vaghela told reporters.