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Four MLAs expelled from House

JAIPUR: The Rajasthan Assembly on Wednesday expelled four members as the House witnessed pandemonium over use of force against Gujjar agitators and the continuing in office of a Minister sentenced by a court to six months’ imprisonment.

The House witnessed a minor scuffle among MLAs of the ruling BJP and the Opposition Congress and Lok Janshakti Party on the podium in front of the Speaker’s seat.

After the day-long strife with members shouting slogans standing in the well and the treasury benches adding to the noise, and the violent overtones -- manifested in throwing of paperweights, pen boxes and tearing up of files -- the axe fell on Prahlad Gunjal, Attar Singh Bhadana, Surendra Singh Rathore and Ranvir Singh Gudda.

Interestingly, the first three belong to the BJP though one of them -- Mr. Gunjal -- is under dismissal and the other – Mr. Bhadana -- under suspension from the party.

“For the first time in my 45 years of political life I witnessed such scenes in the Assembly which is otherwise known for its sobriety and graceful conduct of proceedings,” lamented Speaker Sumitra Singh to journalists who met her in her chamber later.

“It is for the ruling party to ensure order in the House. Here they themselves are creating trouble and disrupting the proceedings,” said Ramnarain Choudhary, the Leader of the Opposition.

“We had given notice for an adjournment motion while the ruling party was going ahead with legislative business even without giving any chance for discussion on the Bills,” C.P. Joshi, Congress MLA, told journalists.

Mr. Rathore and Mr. Gudda, though not from the Gujjar community, too had joined the two Gujjar MLAs to demand resignation of Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and Home Minister Gulab Chand Kataria for the police action on Gujjar mobs, which killed 26 of them.

Mr. Rathore was suspended from the party some time ago while Mr. Gudda of Lok Janshakti Party has been publicly supporting the Gujjar cause for Scheduled Tribe status.

Later, Mr. Rathore was admitted to the ICU of the Sawai Man Singh Hospital after he complained of chest pain.

Ms. Raje, who was present on the Assembly premises, did not appear in the House any time during the day. The ruling party members who countered the Opposition slogans mostly belonged to her group while others from her party chose to sit back and watch.

The House was adjourned eight times after assembling at 11 a.m. and finally adjourning for the day at 6-15 p.m.

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