Cong opposes saffronisation of jobs in Guj, stages walk-out

Gandhinagar, Mar 29: The entire Congress opposition today (Mar 29, 2006) staged a walk-out in the State Assembly in protest against ousting of their young party legislator Paresh Dhanani from the House, following a pandemonium over discussion on a private bill.

The issue cropped up when Leader of the Opposition Arjun Modhvadia objected to what he described as the BJP-ruled Gujarat government's ''saffronisation of government jobs.'' Participating in the debate on the private bill, Mr Modhvadia said that job-seekers in Lok Rakshak Dal were asked such question as to ''What is RSS?'' (Rashtriya Swayami Sevak Sangh) and a failure to reply entails disqualification.

When the treasury bench opposed the charge, Mr Modhvadia said that he was speaking the truth on oath. A pandemonium ensued as the Congress members raised slogans against ''anti-poor'' and ''anti-riot'' policies of the government and counter-slogans from the ruling benches.

As the din continued despite Speaker Mangalbhai Patel's repeated requests, the latter ordered marshals to escort Paresh Dhanani out of the House. This apparently infuriated the Opposition benches and they staged a walk-out.

The private bill by Congress member Anil Joshiara was to amend the government rule to hand over up to 2,000 acres of land to industrial houses on 20 years lease.

UNI