Rajasthan Assembly witnesses three adjournments

Jaipur, Sep 19 (UNI) Noisy scenes and slogan shouting marred the proceedings of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly here today forcing the Chair to adjourn the House thrice in a row.

The day's proceedings began at 1100 hrs amid noise and slogan shouting with expelled BJP member Prahlad Singh Gunjal supported by his expelled party colleague Surendra Singh Rathore, suspended BJP member Attar Singh Bhadana and Ranbir Singh Guda(LJP) disrupting the question hour proceeding to raise the issue of deaths of ''innocent'' people in police firings during the Gujjar reservation agitation in Rajasthan during May-June earlier this year.

Speaker Sumitra Singh cautioned the members against disrupting the question hour, asking them to raise the issue according to rules and procedures, however, the four members ignored the Chair and stormed into the well raising slogans against the government.

This continued for about 20 minutes and in the meantime, the speaker tried to take up the question hour business. Parliamentary Secretary Om Birla read out the answer to a question raised by Ram Narain Meena(Congress) but nothing could be heard in the din.

In view of the situation, the speaker adjourned the house for 40 minutes.

As the house reassembled at 1200 hrs, the situation remained unchanged as the four members continued their protest and the slogan shouting in the well forcing the chair to adjourn the house again till 1330 hrs.

In the meantime, the chair moved obituary references condoling the deaths of former members Kanshiram Gupta and Mangi Lal who passed away recently. Home Minister Gulab Chand Kataria and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Rajendra Singh Rathore tried to persuade the slogan protesting members to abide by the directives of the chair and raise their issue appropriately with due procedure, but in a vain.

The House re-assembled at 1330 hrs to a more complex situation with Congress members creating pandemonium demanding othe resignation of Minister of state for Water Resources Surendra Singh Rathore in the wake of the latter's conviction in a Mines Safety Act violation case.

BD Kalla(Congress) raised the issue of dmenaded Mr Rathore's resignation with his party colleagues rallying behind him into the well to press for the demand. Rebel BJP members also continued their protests in the well.

Deputy Speaker Ram Narain Bishnoi announced that the House would be further adjourned for half an hour.

UNI