Jaipur, February 17 The Rajasthan Assembly was adjourned twice on Tuesday following heated exchanges between MLAs of the ruling party and the opposition Congress over the issue of cow slaughter.
During the Question Hour, BJP MLA Balmukundacharya raised the issue of illegal transportation and slaughtering of cattle, and asked the government whether it intends to give cows the status of "Gaumata" (Mother Cow) like some other states.
Responding to the question, Minister for Animal Husbandry and Gopalan, Joraram Kumawat, said the state government will study the rules and regulations under which other states have given that status.
"The government is fully dedicated to cow conservation and cow service. The question is whether the government is considering granting the cow the status of Rajya Mata (State Mother). Currently, no such proposal is under consideration of the department," Kumawat said.
He said that Rajasthan currently has a strict law under which cases are being registered against those involved in illegal transportation and slaughtering of cattle.
In response, Leader of the Opposition Tika Ram Jully said that it is a serious issue. Stating that a cow was recently slaughtered at Hingonia Gaushala in Jaipur, he said that a BJP worker was involved in the incident, and the BJP MLAs are making efforts to save him.
"The state government should make its stand clear on the issue and what action will be taken," Jully said, accusing the government of not clarifying if it will give the status of Gaumata to cows.
This led to a verbal exchange between leaders of both parties.
As the Congress legislators prepared to raise placards, Assembly Speaker Vasudev Devnani objected to it. He said that it was a well-planned strategy to disrupt House proceedings, and that he would not allow it.
Soon, there was an uproar in the House.
BJP MLA Gopal Sharma stood up without permission and began speaking loudly. The Speaker asked him to sit down. When he refused, Devnani asked Chief Whip Jogeshwar Garg to make Sharma sit down.
The Speaker objected to the conduct of ruling party MLAs and asked them to sit in their chairs. When the disruption continued, he adjourned the House for 20 minutes.
However, as soon as the Zero Hour began, the Congress MLAs rushed to the Well of the House and shouted slogans, following which chairperson Sandeep Sharma adjourned the Assembly again for 30 minutes.
When the House resumed, the uproar continued and it was adjourned for a third time for 30 minutes.
Even after this, when the House resumed, the uproar over the issue refused to die down, forcing the chairperson to adjourn the House for the fourth time.
The day also saw the Rajasthan Assembly being adjourned for a fifth time, till 5 pm.
To end the stalemate, both the ruling and opposition MLAs met Devnani at his chamber.
The Congress legislators objected to the conduct of BJP MLA Gopal Sharma, who reached the opposition benches while raising the issue.
