Normalcy returns in Rajasthan assembly after expulsion of MLAs

Jaipur, Sep 20 (UNI) Condemnation and regrets by the Treasury and Opposition benches over unruly behaviour of some rebel BJP and Congress MLAs in Rajasthan Assembly yesterday and subsequent expulsion of them, helped in restoring normalcy in the house today.

However, the issue again disrupted the Question Hour business for almost 55 minutes. In the meantime, heated exchanges and bids of allegations and counter allegations between the treasury and opposition members were witnessed intermittently.

As soon as the house assembled for the day, Speaker Sumitra Singh condemned yesterday's mishappenings and termed those as unprecedented in the history of the Rajasthan Assembly.

She said this was for the first time that such unfortunate incidents targeting the chair occurred in the house.

Ms Singh said this was the responsibility of all concerned to ensure that such incidents did not reoccur in the house.

Leader of the Opposition Ram Narain Chaudhary said the media reports of yesterday had conveyed a general impression that it was Congress which was responsible for the incidents.

Mr Choudhary said that opposition alone was not guilty of mishappenings but the treasury benches were also responsible.

Leader of the house Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje said there was no point in levelling allegations and counter allegations but important point was that the treasury and the opposition should condemn and express regrets over the unruly scenes in the House.

She said leader of the opposition did not express regrets but she herself do express regrets for yesterday's shameful incidents.

The Speaker welcomed the regrets from the Chief Minister and asked Leader of the Opposition Mr Chaudhary to do the same and ensure that such incidents did not reoccur.

Accordingly, Mr Chaudhary also expressed regrets.

This defused the situation and restored normalcy in the House but the matter consumed almost all the Question Hour time. Only one question about allegation of family favouritism against Minister of State for Education Vasudev Devnani could be taken up in the remaining five minutes of the hour.

Later, the house took up normal Zero Hour business.

UNI