Jharkhand Speaker Suspends 18 BJP MLAs for Assembly Hooliganism

Jharkhand Assembly Speaker Rabindra Nath Mahato stated that he had to suspend 18 BJP MLAs on Thursday due to their unruly behaviour and breach of House decorum. He mentioned that the BJP legislators compromised the House's dignity and privacy. The Speaker accused them of misbehaving with both male and female marshals and violating norms by posting videos on social media from within the House.

Mahato expressed his disappointment, saying, "I am deeply saddened by BJP MLAs' conduct. It is a black day in the 24 years of Jharkhand's history...This conduct is against the set parliamentary norms." He further alleged that the BJP MLAs used foul language against the chair and insulted marshals, causing severe mental distress.

Suspension and Removal of BJP MLAs

The Speaker suspended 18 BJP MLAs from the Jharkhand assembly until 2 PM on August 2. Marshals removed them after they refused to leave the House on Thursday. This action followed a ruckus created by the BJP members in protest against the eviction of opposition MLAs by marshals the previous day and Chief Minister Hemant Soren's refusal to respond to their queries.

On Wednesday, during Question Hour, BJP legislators raised several issues, including the regularisation of contractual workers. They trooped into the well of the House despite repeated requests by the Chair to maintain order. Their rigid stance led to mismanagement, causing the House to be adjourned initially by 12:30 PM.

Protests and Security Concerns

The Leader of the House assured them that he would address their queries, but they continued protesting and brought a large banner in front of the Chair, violating norms. The House was then adjourned again, but they refused to budge, causing severe problems for security personnel and those responsible for maintaining order in the House.

After waiting for seven to eight hours, marshals evicted them from the House. However, they held a sit-in in the lobby with supporters, which Mahato described as hooliganism that jeopardised House security. They also made videos viral and even showed live footage on social media platforms, he alleged.

Opposition's Allegations

Leader of the Opposition Amar Kumar Bauri accused the government of dictatorship in Jharkhand despite following Mahatma Gandhi's non-violent path. He criticised the Speaker's decision and defended the actions of his party members.

The Speaker's decision to suspend the BJP MLAs came after they created chaos in response to opposition MLAs' eviction by marshals and Chief Minister Hemant Soren's refusal to answer their questions. This incident has sparked significant controversy and debate over parliamentary norms and decorum within Jharkhand's legislative assembly.