CHANDIGARH, July 22: Twenty-Two Opposition MLAs, belonging to the Samata Party and the Congress, were arrested for holding demonstrations outside the Haryana Vidhan Sabha today in protest against the ``illegal proceedings'' of the House.

The MLAs, who shouted anti-government slogans, were taken to police station (north) and booked for violation of prohibitory orders.

The police first arrested 18 Samata Party MLAs, led by Ram Pal Majra, who boycotted the proceedings and held a dharna opposite the Vidhan Sabha entrance. They carried placards, denouncing Chief Minister Bansi Lal's `jungle raj' and privatisation of power sector.

No sooner were the Samata Party MLAs arrested than four Congress legislators, led by Randeep Surjewala, who had been suspended from the House, reached there and started shouting slogans. They were also arrested.

The Opposition has been demanding dismissal of the Bansi Lal government, saying it had lost the right to continue by its unconstitutional act of promulgating two ordinances when the Vidhan Sabha was in session.

Initially, the arrested MLAs decided not to offer bail, but were dissuaded by Leader of Opposition Om Prakash Chautala.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.