Taking strong exception to a SP minister's remark on Bhimrao Ambedkar, BSP members today raised slogans in the Uttar Pradesh assembly leading to half an hour adjournment of the House.
During debate on the 2013-2014 budget, rural engineering minister Rajendra Singh Rana made a reference to Ambedkar which was objected to by BSP members who raised slogans and sat on dharna in the well of the House.
Though Speaker Mata Prasad Pandey assured that the "objectionable" remarks on Ambedkar would be expunged from the proceedings, BSP members continued their dharna following which the House was adjourned for five minutes which was later extended to half-an-hour.
BSP continued their protest after the House reassembled. BSP's Swami Prasad Maurya, who is also the leader of opposition in the state Assembly, demanded that Rana should withdraw his
remarks and tender an apology but the minister refused to do so.
Rana said he had no intention to show disrespect to Ambedkar, whom he himself holds in high esteem. He said Ambedkar belonged to the entire country and not to any particular party.
As Parliamentary Affairs Minister Azam Khan and the Speaker's requests to BSP members to keep calm had no effect, the chair rushed through the business and the House was adjourned till March 4.
Later Swami told reporters that Rana's remarks is indicative of his and his party's "polluted mentality".
