NEW DELHI: Congress legislators in Rajasthan continued their sit-in protest inside the state assembly overnight after the suspension of six party MLAs, including Govind Singh Dotsara. The suspension came after a protest in the House on Friday over remarks made by social justice and empowerment minister Avinash Gehlot about former PM Indira Gandhi.
Leader of opposition in Rajasthan assembly Tikaram Jully said that discussions were held with three ministers on Friday night, but the talks were inconclusive, and the sit-in protest continued.
“We demand that the minister withdraw his remark. There have been precedents where words were expunged, but the government itself does not want to run the House, leading to this issue,” Jully told reporters on Saturday.
The protest began after Gehlot, during the Question Hour on Friday, remarked to the opposition, “In the 2023-24 budget also, like always, you named the scheme (on working women’s hostels) after your ‘Dadi’ (grandmother) Indira Gandhi.” The comment triggered a heated uproar in the House, resulting in three adjournments.
Following the chaos, Government Chief Whip Jogeshwar Garg moved a proposal to suspend Congress MLAs Govind Singh Dotasra, Ramkesh Meena, Amin Kagzi, Jakir Hussain, Hakam Ali, and Sanjay Kumar, which was passed by voice vote. The Speaker then adjourned the House until 11 am on Monday.
In response, Congress MLAs launched a sit-in protest inside the assembly, refusing to leave and spending the night in the House to continue their demonstration.