The matter was raised during Zero Hour by Leader of the Opposition Ajay Bhatt, who claimed that Rudrapur MLA Rajkumar Thukral had been booked under various sections of the IPC, including 302 (murder), "at the behest of the state government".
"It is unfortunate that the MLA, who saved the lives of scores of people during the riots, has now been booked for murder, seven months after the incident," Bhatt said.
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Alleging that political vendetta was behind the murder charge being slapped against the MLA, Bhatt urged Speaker Govind Singh Kunjwal to allow the issue to be raised.
Kunjwal tried to pacify the agitated members stating that he would allow them to raise the issue through a Calling Attention motion.
Not satisfied with the Speaker's response, BJP members trooped into the well and sat on dharna, forcing Kunjwal to adjourn the House till 1300 hrs.
When the House reassembled, similar scenes were witnessed and the House was adjourned till 1500 hrs.
Thukral later told reporters that the Congress government was trying to suppress the voice of the opposition by misusing the official machinery. "The police has lodged a case of murder against me and 17 others on April 29 under pressure from the government," he alleged.
Rudrapur town of Kumaon region had witnessed largescale violence that left four people dead and scores of others injured following an alleged act of sacrilege in October last year.
