Gujarat Assembly Speaker Ganpat Vasava today issued a stern warning to senior Congress MLA Shaktisinh Gohil for trying to "pressurise" the Chair in conducting proceedings of the House and "attacking" the dignity of the post.
"He (Gohil) is a learned and experienced member of the House, yet his conduct was against the high standards and traditions of this House. No member can direct the Speaker on how to conduct the proceedings. I strongly condemn his behaviour and warn him of stern action if he is found guilty in future," Vasava told the House.
The Speaker disapproved the conduct of Gohil during the Question Hour yesterday, when the MLA, who represents Abdasa (Kutch) constituency, moved to question no.9 as the Congress MLA Chimanbhai Shaparia who was supposed to ask question no 8, was not present in the House.
Shaparia's question was about the industrial accidents in Jamnagar district and it was addressed to the Labour and Employment Minister Vijay Rupani who was present in the House.
However, Gohil started arguing with Vasava saying Rupani should answer the question irrespective of the MLA being not present in the Assembly.
Gohil argued that rules allow a minister to answer the question even if the MLA is absent.
At that time, state Parliamentary Affairs Minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama took a strong objection to Gohil pointing his finger to Speaker, and said a member cannot insult the Speaker and dictate him on how to transact business of House.
At that time, Vasava reserved his order on the matter.
Expressing his disappointment over Gohil's conduct, the Speaker said today, "Under rule no. 86 of Gujarat Assembly Rules, the minister should also give his consent on whether he wishes to answer the question or not. Further, the minister is also bound to take Speaker's permission to do so."
"But, the way Gohil tried to pressurise me to conduct the proceedings as per his wish (it) is an insult to the Speaker. Even after my repeated requests, he remained adamant and used gestures which can be considered as an attack on the dignity of Speaker's post. I am highly disappointed by his conduct," he said.
