BackBJP, Congress MLAs exchange blows in Gujarat assembly over farmers’ suicide
Two Congress MLAs, including Baldev Thakore, and one BJP MLA and junior minister Nirmala Wadhwani received minor injuries during the clash on Thursday
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Ahmedabad: The Gujarat assembly on Thursday witnessed unruly scenes as members of the opposition Congress and ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) hurled abuses at each other and exchanged blows over the issue of farmers’ suicides.
Two Congress MLAs, including Baldev Thakor, and one BJP MLA and junior minister Nirmala Wadhwani received minor injuries when members rushed to the well of the House and started exchanging blows.
Following the clashes, Speaker Ramanlal Vora temporarily adjourned the House. Trouble started when Congress MLA Paresh Dhanani raised the issue of rising farmer suicides in Gujarat, especially in the Amreli and Junagadh districts. Agriculture minister Chimanbhai Sapariya dismissed the issue. Gujarat home minister Pradeepsinh Jadeja said that there were about eight incidents of farmers suicide in the last one year.
Congress MLAs, including Dhanani, narrated 4-5 recent incidents of farmer suicides in the state to which Sapariya said that the farmers named did not commit suicide due to farm distress, but for other reasons.
Congress MLAs, including Dhanani, Thakor and Ashwin Kotwal, rushed to the well of the house and tried to snatch papers from the hands of Sapariya.
BJP MLAs alleged minister of state for women and child welfare Nirmala Wadhwani was injured. Members from both sides damaged microphones and chairs.
Senior Congress MLA Shaktisinh Gohil termed the incident a “black day" for democracy and accused ruling party members of attacking opposition members.
After the House was reconvened, the Speaker suspended two Congress MLAs for starting the fracas. Thakor said he would file a police complaint against BJP MLAs for attacking him.
During the budget session of the assembly, which started on Monday, the Congress has been trying to corner the government on various issues, especially on the alleged Kutch sex scandal and gangrape case, in which the police have arrested four local BJP leaders.
Opposition leader Shankarsinh Vaghela criticized the ruling government of inaction and demanded a judicial probe in the matter.
Chief minister Vijay Rupani assured the House on Wednesday that a judicial inquiry will be conducted into the incident.
The ruckus in the Assembly continued after the House was reconvened with Congress MLAs staging protests over the issue of alleged use of police force during a farmers’ rally in Sanand on 14 February. The speaker suspended as many as 20 MLAs.
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