Bedlam in Guj assembly: 2 MLAs suspended; minister hurt

The Gujarat assembly witnessed unprecedented scenes on Thursday, as both Bharatiya Janata Party and Congress members hurled verbal abuses at each other leading to a scuffle in which two MLAs including a woman minister were injured.

Later, two Congress MLAs were suspended from the House till the end of the budget session for allegedly attacking ministers and BJP MLAs, while Opposition Congress walked out in protest.

Separately, around 20 Congress MLAs were evicted from the Gujarat assembly after the speaker suspended them for a day for staging protests inside the House over the issue of alleged use of police force during a farmers’ rally in Sanand near Ahmedabad on February 14.

Assembly Speaker Ramanlal Vora suspended Congress MLAs Paresh Dhanani and Baldevji Thakor on the charges of trying to attack BJP MLAs and two ministers -- Vallabh Kakadiya and Nirmala Wadhwani.

An altercation broke out between the legislators of both the parties during Question Hour on Thursday when Dhanani, who represents Amreli seat, sought to know the number of farmers who had committed suicide during last two years in Junagadh and Amreli district.

In his reply, Agriculture Minister Chiman Sapariya stated that no such incidents had taken place during that period.

Not satisfied with the answer, Dhanani rushed near to the minister’s seat and alleged that he is lying, as data from state Home Department suggests that more than 400 farmers has ended their lives during that period in those districts.

When Sapariya was confronting Dhanani, Congress MLA from Kalol seat, Baldevji Thakor also rushed near the minister and tried to snatch papers from his hand, prompting sergeants to cordon them.

Such aggression from Congress members attracted sharp reaction from BJP MLAs, who raised strong objection and entered into verbal spats and abuses with the Opposition in the presence of Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and Leader of Opposition Shankersinh Vaghela.

When the House did not fall in order after his repeated appeals, Speaker Vora adjourned it for an indefinite period and left the floor.

Soon after his exit, the chaos reached its peak after Congress members accused BJP MLAs Kanti Amrutiya and Praful Pansheriya of saying obscene things to them.

Angered with BJP members, several Congress MLAs tried to break free from the clutches of sergeants and challenged both the BJP legislators to face them.

The matter took an ugly turn when Thakor, who was being escorted outside the House, suddenly rushed towards treasury benches from behind the speaker’s chair and allegedly tried to attack Pansheriya and Amrutiya.

State Transport Minister Vallabh Kakadiya who tried to stop him and others fell on the floor as he was allegedly pushed by running Thakor. Women and Child Development minister Nirmala Wadhawani has her seat besides Kakadiya.

Sergeants again managed to catch Thakor by then. After being escorted out, Thakor took first aid on his leg and claimed that he was attacked by BJP members.

IMAGE: Injured BJP minister Nirmala Wadhwani after BJP and Congress MLAs traded blows in the Gujarat assembly in Gandhinagar on Thursday. Photograph: PTI Photo