Uproar in Gujarat Assembly over 'Sujalam Sufalam' issue

Ahmedabad, July 20 (UNI) The Gujarat Legislative Assembly was adjourned for 30 minutes when Opposition Congress members created noisy and unruly scenes and raised slogans over alleged irregularities in Gujarat Government's multi-crore ''Sujalam Sufalam'' irrigation scheme.

The trouble started when Congress members, led by Kadi constituency MLA Baldev Thakore, demanded tabling of the report of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), which was set up to probe into the irregularities in the irrigation project.

Assembly Speaker Mangaldas Patel tried to pacify the Congress and ruling BJP members when they indulged in allegations and counter allegations. However, when the noisy scenes persisted, Mr Patel adjouned the House for 30 minutes this morning.

When the House reassembled at 1015 hours, the Congress members continued their slogan shouting against the BJP Government, particularly targetting Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

When Mr Thakore refused to calm down and continued his protest, Mr Patel ordered the marshalls to remove him from the House.

However, the Congress member continued arguing with marshalls and refused to leave the House, following which the Speaker suspended him for a day from the House.

In protest of his suspension, the entire Congress members led by leader of opposition Arjun Modhwadia staged a walkout. But, they all returned to the House after five minutes to attend the proceedings.

Later, one more Congress MLA, Bhavan Bharwad, was also suspended for the day when he also protested against the alleged irregularities and rushed to the well of the House displaying a local daily that had carried a report on the PAC findings.

UNI