The Congress MLAs today staged a walk out in the Gujarat Legislative Assembly after the Speaker turned down their demand for a 'zero hour' discussion on the murder of a dalit sarpanch in Amreli district.
Jaysukh Madhad (25), a Sarpanch of Varasda village, was killed on Tuesday night allegedly by three persons belonging to another caste over an election dispute. Police have arrested one of the accused so far.
In his opening remarks after the conclusion of Question Hour, senior Congress MLA Shaktisinh Gohil urged the Speaker Ramanlal Vora to call for a zero hour discussion, which was strongly opposed by the BJP MLAs.
Rejecting Gohil's demand, Vora said though the issue was indeed "very sensitive", the rules of the House do not have the provision for a zero hour discussion.
"Though the matter is very sensitive, our rules are very clear. I cannot allow the zero hour discussion. Even the Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Atmaram Parmar has also rejected this proposal," the Speaker said.
To pacify the Congress MLAs, who were engaged in a heated discussion with the treasury benches on the issue, the Speaker said he had already accepted the short call notice under rule 116 to hold discussions on this matter in coming days.
"I have already allowed Congress MLA Shailesh Parmar's notice to hold discussion. Thus, there is no point in doing it today. We do not have the tradition of calling for zero hour discussions," he said.
As the commotion escalated, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani assured Congress that the BJP government was ready to talk in detail under rule 116, which allows members to draw attention of the House on the matters of urgent public interest.
"My government is ready to hold a detailed discussion on the issue. The Speaker has also accepted your notice on it. Since we do not have the tradition of zero hour, I urge you to talk on the issue when it comes for discussion as per the rules," said Rupani.
Apparently not satisfied with the answer, Gohil said the government should become sensitive and alleged that Madhad was murdered by the members of the BJP.
"This is a very serious issue. A dalit sarpanch was killed by the office-bearers of your party," Gohil said, sparking a huge row.
Rupani retorted that Congress was only interested in doing politics. "We do have sympathy. But, it seems that you are only interested in doing politics on the issue," he said.
When the Speaker asked the Congress members to drop their demand, around 50 MLAs led by the Leader of Opposition Shankersinh Vaghela staged a walk out in the Assembly till recess.
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