The Rajasthan Assembly erupted in chaos after a BJP minister referred to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi as “aapki dadi” during a response about women’s hostels, leading to demands for an apology from Congress MLAs. The assembly was adjourned thrice, and six Congress MLAs were suspended for the session. They planned to protest by staying overnight in the assembly’s well. Leaders from both parties clashed, with Congress accusing the BJP of stifling opposition voices and diverting attention from its failures. The BJP countered that Congress was disrupting assembly proceedings, intensifying tensions in the political landscape.
Jaipur:
The Rajasthan Assembly was thrown into chaos on Friday when a BJP minister, seemingly targeting Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, referred to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi as “aapki dadi” (your grandmother). Amid chants and calls for an apology from Congress MLAs—many of whom entered the well of the House—the Assembly was adjourned three times, and six Congress MLAs were suspended for the rest of the Budget session.
The suspended MLAs plan to spend the night in the well of the House, with arrangements being made for their bedding and dinner.
In response to a query regarding hostels for working women, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Avinash Gehlot pointed at the opposition members and stated, “In the 2023-24 budget as well, like always, you named the scheme after your ‘dadi’.” Leader of Opposition Tika Ram Jully vehemently objected, questioning whether the minister was referencing former PM Indira Gandhi. He demanded that the remark be removed from the record as several Congress MLAs began to protest and moved towards the well.
Laxmangarh MLA and state Congress chief Govind Singh Dotasara approached the Assembly Secretary’s table to demand an apology from the minister. Congruently, the marshals of the Assembly faced off against Congress MLAs, while BJP MLAs and ministers staunchly countered the opposition’s claims.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Jogaram Patel asserted that there was nothing inappropriate about the term ‘dadi’.
The House was initially adjourned for half an hour, then until 2 pm, and again until 4 pm. When the session resumed, government chief whip Jogeshwar Garg stated that the opposition had overstepped boundaries.
“The swiftness and intent with which they approached the Chair, as well as the incident of nearing the Speaker, is undeniably condemnable and not excusable. Therefore, I request that due to the indecent and unacceptable actions of the opposition members in the House, the following members be suspended for the remainder of the current Budget session… Govind Singh Dotasara, Ramkesh Meena, Amin Kagzi, Jakir Hussain, Hakim Ali, and Sanjay Kumar,” he was reported by news agency PTI.
The proposal was approved through a voice vote, and Speaker Vasudev Devnani adjourned the session until Monday, after which Congress MLAs began to protest in the well of the Assembly.
Point, Counterpoint
Taking to X, Leader of the Opposition Jully stated that the minister had made “indecent” remarks, accusing the BJP of trying to silence opposition voices.
“Minister Shri Avinash Gehlot made inappropriate comments about the esteemed leader Indira Gandhi ji, who dedicated her life to the nation, yet it was our MLAs who faced suspension. This illustrates that the BJP operates with a dictatorial mindset. Preventing the Leader of Opposition from speaking on the Governor’s address and subsequently suspending six MLAs, including the state (Congress) president, demonstrates the BJP’s intention to stifle the voice of the Opposition,” he wrote in Hindi.
Senior Congress leader and former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot echoed similar sentiments, asserting that the Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma-led BJP government was attempting to cover up its inadequacies.
In a post in Hindi, Mr. Gehlot stated, “Initially, a minister from the BJP government made an inappropriate remark about former Prime Minister Smt. Indira Gandhi and then suspended the Congress MLAs from the House who protested against the lack of an apology. This indicates that the tactics used in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha are now being replicated in the Rajasthan Assembly. Just as MPs are suspended there to conceal their failures, the same approach has been adopted here.”
“The government has had no accomplishments to showcase in the past year; thus, the Leader of Opposition was not permitted to highlight its failures during the address. Now, our state president and MLAs representing Dalit, backward, tribal, and minority communities have been suspended from the Budget session. Is this not a tactic to divert attention from the Budget discussion?” he questioned.
In response, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Jogaram Patel accused the Congress of consistently disrupting the House proceedings. He charged Mr. Dotasara with attempting to intimidate the Speaker, suggesting that further action on the issue could be contemplated.