Two women legislators belonging to the BJP and Congress engaged in a war of words in the Legislative Assembly today over the Patel quota issue and alleged police 'excesses' during the stir last year.
During the discussion on the motion of thanks to Governor for his address, Congress MLA Tejashree Patel sparred with Women and Child Development Minister Vasuben Trivedi who in turn urged the Speaker to restrain Patel from delivering her speech, saying it is against the set values of the House.
Patel represents Viramgam seat, the hometown of quota spearhead Hardik Patel who, along with his aides, is lodged in jail in a sedition case.
Within minutes of starting her speech in the House, Patel attacked the BJP government on the issue of jailed quota leaders and alleged that atrocities were committed on Patel community by the police last year.
She accused the BJP as well as the Anandiben Patel government for "not uttering a single word" about ongoing agitation in the House on the issue, which is in session since February 22.
On the sedition charge slapped against Patel leaders, the Congress MLA said the government has singled out those fighting for the rights of the community, but failed to apply the same charge on those who raised Pakistani flags in Jammu and Kashmir.
Citing the incidents of violence and subsequent police action during the quota stir last year, the MLA alleged that police mercilessly thrashed innocent Patel men, women and children after forcibly entering their houses and broke their furniture and vehicles.
Taking strong objection about her allegations in the House, Law Minister Pradeepsinh Jadeja requested the Deputy Speaker Atmaram Parmar, who chaired the session after recess, to stop her from making such remarks and said such comments cannot be made in the House when the matter is sub-judice.
Though Parmar gave warning to Patel, she continued her diatribe against the BJP government on the quota issue.
When she did not stop, Trivedi requested the Chair to cut short her speech, saying the Congress MLA is violating the high traditions of the House.
Angered by Trivedi's move, Patel shouted at her and said she was speaking on behalf of the women of the community being a Patel herself.
The Congress MLA also asked the minister to sit down, to which Trivedi shot back saying she was also born in a Patel family.
Trivedi once again urged the chair to end Patel's speech for not listening to the earlier order of the chair.
Patel finally curtailed her speech after final warning by the deputy-speaker.
