Jaipur, Feb 27: The Rajasthan Assembly remained deadlocked for the seventh consecutive day as Congress MLAs boycotted Thursday's proceedings and staged a mock session outside, protesting remarks made by Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Avinash Gehlot against former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
The situation escalated further following Congress state president Govind Singh Dotasra’s alleged "undignified remarks" against Assembly Speaker Vasudev Devnani. In response, opposition MLAs marched towards the assembly, held placards, and raised slogans demanding an apology from the minister.
Congress legislators conducted a mock Question Hour outside the House, with MLA Ghanshyam acting as the "chair," while members questioned the ruling BJP’s actions. Meanwhile, inside the Assembly, BJP MLAs accused the opposition of disrupting proceedings and urged them to end the impasse.
Call for Resolution Amid Political Standoff
Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot emphasized the need for cooperation, stating, “Both sides should work together so that debates can occur. There should be no ego; this deadlock is unnecessary.”Leader of Opposition Tikaram Jully reiterated Congress's openness to dialogue but accused the government of avoiding discussions. “We stayed in the assembly for three days. Despite multiple talks and expressions of regret from opposition leaders, the minister refuses to respond,” he said.
Jully also claimed that Dotasra was willing to visit the Speaker’s residence to resolve the issue, but the government avoided discussions due to concerns over ministerial performance.
Government Pushes Back
Minister of State for Home Jawahar Singh Bedham criticized Congress MLAs for boycotting the House, arguing that the people elected them but chose to protest outside. He defended Avinash Gehlot’s remarks, stating that calling Indira Gandhi "dadi" was not unparliamentary, as former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru was called "chacha."He also accused Ashok Gehlot of focusing more on social media than attending the Assembly. “Dotasra should apologize for his remarks against the Speaker. He holds a responsible position as state party chief and must uphold decorum,” Bedham asserted.
Unresolved Deadlock Over Minister’s Apology
During Zero Hour, BJP MLA Arjun Lal called for an end to the deadlock, maintaining that no disrespectful remarks were made. Bedham assured the House that the government had made positive efforts to resolve the matter, citing multiple discussions with senior Congress leaders.Parliamentary Affairs Minister Jogaram Patel revealed that Dotasra initially agreed to apologize for his words in a meeting with Assembly leaders. However, when he spoke in the House, he did not adhere to the agreed terms, leading to further tension.
BJP MLA Srichand Kriplani suggested that the controversy could have been avoided had Avinash Gehlot referred to Indira Gandhi as “grandmother” instead of “dadi.”
The impasse stems from the February 28 session, when Avinash Gehlot referenced a government scheme, stating, “Like always, you named it after your ‘dadi’ Indira Gandhi.” The comment sparked outrage, resulting in multiple adjournments and the suspension of six Congress MLAs.
Congress members continue to demand the minister’s apology and the revocation of suspensions while rounds of negotiations between both sides remain inconclusive. Speaker Devnani and Minister Patel reportedly found Dotasra’s previous statements unsatisfactory, prolonging the standoff in the Rajasthan Assembly.
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