Ahmedabad: The Gujarat assembly on Thursday witnessed unruly scenes as members of the opposition Congress and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) hurled abuses at each other and exchanged blows over the farmers’ suicide issue.
Two Congress MLAs, including Baldev Thakore, 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 adjourned the House for some time.
The trouble started when, during the budget session proceedings, opposition Congress MLA Paresh Dhanani raised the issue of famer suicides in Amreli district of Gujarat. BJP MLAs retorted by saying no farmer had committed suicide in the district and dismissed the allegation on the ground that he was not a registered farmer, which led to heated arguments.
Congress MLAs, including Dhanani, Thakore and Ashwin Kotwal, rushed to the well of the house and tried to snatch papers from the hands of agriculture minister Chimanbhai Sapariya.
BJP MLAs alleged minister of state for women and child welfare Nirmala Wadhwani was injured by Congress members. Members from both sides resorted to vandalising the House, damaging microphones and chairs.
Senior Congress MLA Shaktisinh Gohil termed the incident a “black day” for democracy and accused the ruling party members of attacking the opposition members. After the House was reconvened, the Speaker suspended two Congress MLAs for starting the clashes. Thakore said he would file a police complaint against BJP MLAs for the attack on 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, for which the police 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.
