JAIPUR: Congress MLA Raghuvir Singh Meena was suspended from the Rajasthan Assembly on Wednesday for the remainder of the Budget session and physically removed from the House for his refusal to tender an apology for his confrontation with a ruling BJP member over recent attacks by radical groups on Christians.

Mr. Meena had almost come to blows with the ruling party MLA, Banshilal Khateek, on Tuesday when the latter made some `abusive' remarks against the entire Opposition during a debate on victimisation of Christians in the wake of a controversy over the contents of a book. Mr. Khateek later expressed regret over the use of offensive language.

The deadlock over Speaker Sumitra Singh's ruling that both the MLAs apologise to "uphold the dignity'' of the House had been continuing since Tuesday. Mr. Meena's refusal to either tender an apology or leave the House led to noisy scenes as soon as the House assembled on Wednesday.

The Speaker adjourned the House twice and suspended the question hour making it clear to the Opposition Congress that no proceedings would take place unless Mr. Meena apologises or leaves the Assembly. Mr. Meena's refusal to budge and his protection by the senior Congress members led to the ruling party's Chief Whip, Mahavir Prasad Jain, moving a motion for his suspension. Despite a strong exception taken by the entire Opposition, Ms. Singh put the motion to a voice vote and passed the suspension order amid pandemonium.

The motion said Mr. Meena had disobeyed the Speaker's ruling and created hurdles in the day's business.

When the suspended MLA did not go out, the Speaker called in the marshals and asked them to physically take him away.

The Congress members gathered around Mr. Meena and resisted the move, but the marshals lifted him and forced him out. Mr. Meena's kurta was torn and the chair on which he was sitting was broken in the melee.

The Congress members, accompanied by several Independents, walked out while pointing out that Christians were still being targeted in various parts of the State.

Sanyam Lodha of Congress said Bajrang Dal activists had assaulted the Principal of the Emmanuel Mission School in Newai, Augustine George, and his wife on Tuesday when they were leaving for Jaipur to join a protest march.

Mr. Meena earlier said in the House that he had not committed any offence or indulged in any disorder.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail