Khakhi shorts hurled at Gujarat Governor, Cong members suspended

Khakhi shorts hurled at Gujarat Governor, Cong members suspended
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

GANDHINAGAR, FEB 23: All the Opposition Congress members, except a woman MLA, who were present during Gujarat Governor's address on the opening day of the Budget session of state Assembly on Monday, were today suspended from the House for a varying period of time for disrupting the speech.

Three members -- Udesinh Baria, Khumansinh Chauhan and Subhash Shelat -- were suspended for a week for hurling khaki shorts and caps (RSS uniform) at the Governor S S Bhandari during his address.

The Speaker, Dhirubhai Shah, also directed officials to examine the video recording of the event following which a decision would be taken to suspend those found demonstrating, waving khaki shorts or black caps, shouting anti-Governor slogans and displaying placards in the House.

Other Congress members, except Urvashi Devi, were suspended for period ranging from two to three days for disrupting the Governor's address by exhibiting khaki shorts and caps and displaying placards respectively in the House. However, the Speaker did not announce their names.

The Congress later said it would move a motion in the House for removal of Speaker Dhirubhai Shah for his ``partial attitude'' towards the party.

The motion to suspend the members was moved by the Parliamentary Affairs Minister Suresh Mehta. It was put to vote by the Speaker and adopted by the House by voice vote.

In the 182-member Gujarat Assembly, the Congress has 56 MLAs.

Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Amarsinh Chaudhary sought time from the Chair for the suspended members so as to allow them to explain their stand. However, the Speaker did not accede to his plea. Chaudhary, along with other Congress members, then walked out in protest against the action.

Choudhary later alleged in a statement that the Speaker was ``prejudiced'' against the Congress and his ``decision'' to suspend party MLAs was taken ``at the instance of BJP-ruled Government and the RSS''.

He alleged that the suspension motion was passed in a ``hurry and without much discussion''.

The Congress members, in protest against Gujarat Government's recent decision to allow its employees to take part in RSS activities, had disrupted the Governor's address by shouting slogans, displaying placards and throwing khaki shorts and black caps at him.