Gujarat State Assembly Speaker Ramanlal Vora suspended all opposition Congress MLAs for a day from the assembly on Tuesday after they refused to end their protest over cow vigilante group members publicly flogging Dalits in Una on July 11 this year.
Pandemonium reined in the state assembly, as Congress MLAs repeatedly trooped into the Well to demand an inquiry into the incident as also a commitment from the BJP-led state government to announce the steps they would be taking to assuage the hurt sentiments of the Dalit community.
Days after the July 11 thrashing, Dalits were again attacked in Samter village of Una Taluka in Gir Somnath district. The Dalits were returning after participating in Dalit Asmita Yatra in Una town. The mob threw stones on police and Dalits, injuring many. Police had to resort to a baton charge to disperse the rioters and then lobbed teargas shells then.
Gujarat has been in the throes of a several protests and pro-Dalit rallies since the attacks on the community last month.
On Monday, Vora was elected unopposed as the state assembly speaker. His name was proposed by Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and was seconded by the Leader of Opposition Shankersinh Vaghela.
Another BJP leader Shambhuji Thakor was elected as Deputy Speaker after voice vote, as Congress had fielded woman legislator Chandrika Bariya in a token fight.
The Gujarat State Assembly will ratify the Goods and Service Tax (GST) Bill on Tuesday.
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