The Hindu : New Delhi News : BJP legislators clash with marshals

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jul 23, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

BJP legislators clash with marshals

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, JULY 22. In a shocking display of unruly behaviour with scant regard for the norms and dignity of the House, the Bharatiya Janata Party legislators today clashed with the security personnel inside the Delhi Assembly. The legislators engaged in fisticuffs, used the filthiest of abuses and even slapped, pushed and boxed the security personnel leading to a complete chaos in the Assembly.

What was even more shocking was that the entire band of legislators, who showed little regard to the presence of women legislators in the House, was led by the Leader of the Opposition, Jagdish Mukhi. The entire House watched as the BJP legislators pounced on the security personnel and started boxing them with their fists. Some legislators, including Moti Lal Sodhi, climbed on the benches bare feet and openly challenged the others to take him on. The Tughlakabad legislator, Ramesh Bidhuri, was seen using the most abusive language even as the Speaker, Chaudhary Prem Singh, adjourned the House in view of the behaviour of the BJP legislators, who were later expelled for the entire day from the House.

The incident took place during question hour when Mr. Mukhi raised the issue of leak of budget in newspapers and sought a reply from the Government. Suddenly the issue was diverted and the relocation of the slaughterhouse to Ghazipur became the topic of debate. Mr. Prem Singh said he had not allowed any such discussion and asked the members to resume their seats. However, the unrelenting Opposition led by Mr. Mukhi and his fellow colleague, Harsh Vardhan, refused to listen and the House was adjourned for ten minutes.

When the House re-assembled again, the BJP members were again on their feet. At this point, the Finance Minister, A.K. Walia, moved a resolution for expulsion of Mr.Mukhi, Dr. Harsh Varhdan, Sahib Singh Chauhan, Kulwant Rana and Mr.Bidhuri from the House which was passed unanimously. However, as soon as the security personnel entered the House to evict Mr. Mukhi and his other colleagues, they just refused to budge from their seats. Despite repeated pleadings from the security personnel to leave the House smoothly, Mr. Mukhi remained adamant and refused to leave. The security personnel then moved in to evict Mr. Mukhi and his colleagues physically. However, they were faced with stiff resistance and suddenly the BJP MLAs started pushing the security personnel and also threatened them with dire consequences. Duty bound to carry out the orders of the Speaker, the security personnel lifted Mr. Mukhi and started moving towards the legislator's gallery. However, suddenly all BJP MLAs pounced on the one who was holding Mr. Mukhi and pinned him down on the seat of Nationalist Congress Party MLA, Ramvir Singh Bidhuri. He was badly thrashed by the BJP legislators who also broke microphones and shouted abuses at the top of their voice. However, after a lot of resistance and unpleasantness they were evicted from the House. The security personnel, it is understood, have complained to the Speaker in this regard and he is reportedly contemplating action in the matter. "I will take action against the BJP members if I get anything in writing,'' Mr. Prem Singh said.

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