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Assembly opens on a stormy note

JAIPUR: The monsoon session of the Rajasthan Assembly opened on a stormy note here on Tuesday when a group of MLAs belonging to the Gujjar community sought a mention of 26 persons killed during the recent Gujjar agitation in the customary condolences in the House on the first day.

There was some noise also over the status of Education Minister Ghanshyam Tiwari, who has been rendered powerless on account of his opposition to Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje.

Ruling party rebel Prahlad Gunjal, dismissed from the BJP for his open defiance of the State leadership, led the vociferous demand for a mention of the Gujjars who fell victims to the police firing during the agitation for Scheduled Tribe status. His party colleague Attar Singh Bhadana and senior Congress MLA Govind Singh Gujjar joined him. The lone Lok Janshakti Party member, Ranvir Singh Gudda, though not a Gujjar, supported the demand, which Speaker Sumitra Singh rejected while an unfazed Ms. Raje looked on.

The Speaker had to call out repeatedly to make both Mr. Gunjal and Mr. Gudda sit down while she read out the condolences for 16 persons, including former Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar, former Delhi Chief Minister Saheb Singh Verma and former Tamil Nadu Governor Sunderlal Khurana, besides the Hyderabad blast victims and 86 persons who died at Desuri Ki Naal in Rajsamand district in the recent road mishap.

Both Mr. Gunjal and Mr. Gudda defied the Speaker’s orders to leave the House but sobered down once she told them that she would call the Marshall to get them out. “This is murder of democracy!” Mr. Gunjal was heard shouting once Ms. Singh ended her condolences and the House stood in silence for two minutes as a mark of respect.The status of Mr. Tiwari too was an uncomfortable reference for Ms. Raje as he has been overtly critical of her ways. The House was adjourned at 11-55 a.m. after the condolences.

The Business Advisory Committee of the House which met later decided on the business for the House till Friday.

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