Congress MLAs suspended after Gujarat assembly ruckus over Dalits

Gandhinagar, Aug 23 Gujarat assembly Speaker Ramanlal Vora on Tuesday suspended all Congress MLAs -- barring Leader of Opposition Shankersinh Vaghela and Balwantsinh Rajput -- for the day after they created a ruckus over the alleged atrocities committed on Dalits in Una town last month.

Congress lawmakers were demanding an inquiry by a sitting high court judge in the incident where four Dalits were beaten by self-styled cow vigilantes in Mota Samadhiyala village of Una in Gir-Somnath distric on July 11.

Tuesday was the last of the two-day monsoon session that began on Monday and was called to clear the Goods and Services Tax Bill.

The opposition members displayed banners in the house and shouted slogans infront of the speaker. They threw bangles at the treasury benches in a sign of protest with Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and his colleagues present in the house.

The Congress members later marched out of the assembly building shouting slogans and wearing the banners to join what they called a "Jan Akrosh", or public anger, rally organized by the party here.

Scores of people joined the rally after they surrounded the state assembly building.

On Monday, the house was adjourned after unanimous election of new Speaker Ramanlal Vora, the BJP's Dalit face, and election of Deputy Speaker by a voice vote.

IANS