Ruckus in Rajasthan assembly over sacked minister Gudha's red diary

Sacked Rajasthan minister Rajendra Gudha on Monday was suspended from the state assembly for "unruly behaviour" after ugly scenes were witnessed in the House when he raised the issue of a red diary, claiming it held details of irregular financial transactions.

BJP MLA Madan Dilawar too was suspended for the remainder of the assembly.

Earlier, Gudha was pushed and shoved by Congress MLAs after he created a ruckus over the red dairy, demanding that he be allowed to make a statement.

Opposition BJP MLAs too created an uproar and stormed the well of the house over the issue. 

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Shanti Dhariwal moved a proposal to suspend Gudha and Dilawar for the remainder of the session for their "unruly behaviour" and it was passed by the house.

Dhariwal, in the proposal, said Gudha tried to manhandle him and a "big incident" could have happened had the marshals not come for his rescue.

He said the behaviour of Gudha was "very shameful and unparliamentary".

About Dilawar, Dhariwal said he had advanced towards him and had a plan to attack him.

Earlier in the morning, when Gudha entered the house, he near the chair of Speaker C P Joshi and waved the red-coloured diary, demanding he should be allowed to make a statement.

Speaker Joshi strongly objected to the Gudha's behaviour and repeatedly asked him to meet him in his chamber.

Meanwhile, BJP MLAs created an uproar and waved "symbolic" red diaries.

As Dhariwal stoop up to make a statement, Gudha aggressively rushed towards him and hit his microphone. Congress MLA Rafiq Khan immediately pushed Gudha while minister Ramlal Jat and other other Congress MLAs also came forward and surrounded Gudha. They were seen pushing and shoving him.

As the unruly scenes continued, the speaker ordered the marshals to take Gudha out. He then adjourned the house.

The house reassembled at 2 pm and speaker Joshi took up the listed business.

The opposition members again created an uproar and came into the well of the house. However, Gudha was not present in the house this time.

The house passed the Kota Development Authority Bill, 2023, Udaipur Development Authority Bill 2023, Gandhi Vatika Trust Jaipur Bill and the Rajasthan Platform Based Gig Workers (Registration and Welfare) Bill, 2023 amid the din.

The speaker again adjourned the house for one hour after the bills were passed.

Earlier, during Zero Hour, leader of opposition Rajendra Rathore raised the issue of the red diary and demanded an answer from the government.

Before the house began in the morning, Gudha told reporters that he would "disclose" the details about a "red diary" in the assembly. He said the diary contained some "secrets"

Later, after the house was adjourned, Gudha told reporters at the assembly building that he wanted to give a statement on the "red diary" but the speaker did not allow it.

"Shanti Dhariwal stood up to speak and I went to him and said that I wanted to give a statement in the house, but Congress MLAs pushed me to the ground and overpowered me. Some of them including Dhariwal kicked me and snatched the diary from me. However, some part of the diary was still left with me," he said.

Gudha said he will go among the people on Tuesday and will reveal the "secrets" contained in the diary.

The sacked minister claimed that the diary was "secured" by him during an income tax raid at the residence of RTDC chairman Dharmendra Rathore.

He alleged that Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot had asked him to go to Rathore's residence to secure the diary during the raid.

Gudha alleged that the diary, allegedly written by Rathore, held details of the money given to MLAs and it has the names of Ashok Gehlot as well as his son Vaibhav Gehlot.

BJP leader and leader of opposition Rajendra Rathore told reporters that what happened in the house was shameful.

"Gudha wanted to give a statement and he should have been allowed," he said.

Gudha, who held charge as minister of state for sainik kalyan (independent charge), home guard and civil defence, panchayati raj and rural development, was sacked on Friday evening, hours after he cornered the state government over the law and order situation and women safety in the assembly.

Speaking to reporters in the national capital, BJP leader and Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat claimed that the political existence of many leaders will be under threat if the contents of the diary highlighted by Gudha are spilt out.

He accused the Ashok Gehlot-led Congress government in Rajasthan of "breaking all records of corruption".

"Everybody in Rajasthan wants to know the mystery of the red diary. Why are the government and its head so nervous about it?" Shekhawat said.