Other States - Rajasthan   

Leader of Opposition bursts into tears

JAIPUR: The Rajasthan Assembly was in for some melodrama on Wednesday as Leader of the Opposition Hemaram Choudhary burst into tears after his repeated efforts to speak in the House, on the plight of the frost-hit farmers and the contentious issue of the total strength of the State’s Council of Ministers exceeding the permissible limit, was thwarted by the ruling party MLAs. Perhaps the last straw for Mr.Choudhary, facing the Assembly as the Leader of the Opposition for the first time, was when Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje herself interrupted his speech and spoke in what he later said, “mocking and admonishing tones”.

The Assembly, into the third day of a stalemate after the Opposition Congress party’s protests holding up business, was both stunned and amused to find Mr.Choudhary in tears. The House had witnessed two adjournments during the day when the Opposition Leader’s emotional outburst lead to another round of bedlam and yet another adjournment. “This is not a laughing matter. It is a serious issue,” Mr.Choudhary tried to argue with Ms.Raje, who was fighting hard to suppress her laughter. “What was there to cry? What will come out of it?” she asked him.

“This is the first time that the Leader of the Opposition has been treated in such a manner in the Assembly,” Congress member Sanyam Lodha said soon after.

Mr. Choudhary had attempted to speak on the issue the previous day as well when repeated interruptions from the ruling party MLAs made him to sit down. He made his first attempt today to speak during Question Hour and Deputy Speaker Ram Narayan Bishnoi tried to facilitate him to do so asking the members to listen to the Leader of the Opposition. The House was first adjourned for the first time during Question Hour for an hour. After reassembling at 12.30 p.m. soon it was adjourned for another 30 minutes. The Chief Minister made her appearance when it reassembled at 1 p.m.

Making an appeal to end the deadlock Ms.Raje said the Government had sought the Advocate General’s opinion on the legal status of the State Council of Ministers and the report from him would be tabled in the House. “We have seen the report and you can also read it. If anything is left we can still discuss it,” she said. Home Minister G.C.Kataria also made a similar appeal and said three days have been lost on the issue.

Mr.Choudhary, who got up with the permission of the chair said he was not allowed to speak the previous day by the ruling party members. However this time the interruption came from Ms.Raje who told him to read the Advocate General’s report and speak later. On this Mr.Choudhary sat back tears rolling down his cheeks.

“When I stood up to speak the Chief Minister was laughing. Her Ministers and MLAs had disturbed me earlier and now it was Ms.Raje herself. Before I could say anything she started talking. Is it a democracy here or are we still under the kings?” Mr.Choudhary told journalists later in the Opposition lobby. “People have sent us here and if I cannot speak even as the Leader of the Opposition what is left?” he asked.

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