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The Rajasthan Assembly turned into a battleground on Friday as Congress leaders staged an overnight sit-in protest following the suspension of six of their MLAs. The uproar erupted after BJP minister Avinash Gehlot referred to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi as “aapki dadi” (your grandmother) during a discussion on working women’s hostels.
The suspended Congress MLAs, including Rajasthan Congress President Govind Singh Dotasra, Deputy Leader of Opposition Ramkesh Meena, Amin Kagzi, Zakir Hussain Gesawat, Hakeem Ali Khan, and Sanjay Kumar Jatav, spent the night inside the Assembly as a mark of protest.
Political Turmoil Over ‘Dadi’ Remark
During Question Hour, Minister Avinash Gehlot stated, “In the 2023-24 budget, like always, you named the scheme (for working women’s hostels) after your ‘dadi’ Indira Gandhi.” The comment infuriated the Congress opposition, leading to sloganeering and protests inside the House.
Leader of Opposition Tika Ram Jully demanded that the “inappropriate” remark be removed from the records. However, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Jogaram Patel dismissed the demand, arguing that the term “dadi” was not unparliamentary.
House Adjournments and Suspension of MLAs
The Assembly was adjourned three times due to the protests—first for 30 minutes, then until 2 PM, and later till 4 PM. When the session resumed, government chief whip Jogeshwar Garg defended the suspensions, accusing Congress MLAs of disrupting proceedings and approaching the Speaker aggressively.
“The way they moved towards the chair was condemnable and unacceptable. Therefore, I propose that the following members be suspended for the rest of the Budget session,” Garg stated, as per news agency PTI.
Congress Accuses BJP of Suppressing Opposition
Following the suspensions, Congress leaders launched a scathing attack on the BJP, accusing them of silencing the opposition.
Congress MLA Tika Ram Jully slammed the decision, saying:
“Minister Avinash Gehlot made an indecent comment about Indira Gandhi, who sacrificed her life for the country, yet our MLAs were suspended. This proves the BJP is running the Assembly with a dictatorial mindset.”
Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot also criticized the BJP government, likening the suspensions to similar tactics used in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
“First, a BJP minister made an indecent comment about Indira Gandhi. Then, instead of apologizing, Congress MLAs were suspended for protesting. The BJP is trying to hide its failures, just like it does in Parliament,” he said in a post on X.
He further alleged that the government was deliberately diverting attention from the Budget discussion, stating: “For the past year, the BJP government has failed to deliver. Now, the Leader of Opposition is being silenced, and Congress MLAs from Dalit, OBC, tribal, and minority communities are being suspended. Is this not an attempt to stifle debate?”
Congress Announces Statewide Protest
In response to the suspensions and the minister’s remarks, Congress has announced a statewide protest on Saturday. The party is expected to mobilize workers across Rajasthan to protest what they call an attack on democracy and an attempt to suppress opposition voices.
With political tensions at an all-time high, all eyes are now on the Rajasthan Assembly as the Budget session continues.
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