Congress leaders in Rajasthan staged an overnight sit-in protest inside the state assembly, condemning the suspension of six party MLAs after a heated exchange during Friday’s session. The lawmakers, including Rajasthan Congress President Govind Singh Dotasra and Deputy Leader of Opposition Ramkesh Meena, spent the night in the House, demanding justice.
The protest erupted after BJP minister Avinash Gehlot referred to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi as “aapki dadi” (your grandmother) while discussing a scheme on working women’s hostels. The comment sparked outrage among Congress members, leading to sloganeering and disruption in the House.
Uproar and Suspension of MLAs
During Question Hour, Social Justice Minister Avinash Gehlot remarked that Indira Gandhi’s name was frequently used in government schemes. Opposition leader Tika Ram Jully objected, demanding the statement be removed from official records. Congress MLAs rushed towards the well, prompting three consecutive adjournments.
When the session resumed at 4 PM, BJP’s chief whip Jogeshwar Garg moved a motion to suspend Dotasra, Meena, Amin Kagzi, Zakir Hussain Gesawat, Hakeem Ali Khan, and Sanjay Kumar Jatav for the remainder of the budget session, citing their “indecent and condemnable conduct.”
Leader of Opposition Tika Ram Jully accused the BJP government of trying to silence dissent.
“A BJP minister made an indecent remark about Indira Gandhi, who sacrificed her life for the country, yet our MLAs were suspended. This exposes BJP’s dictatorial mindset,” he said.
Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot echoed similar sentiments, alleging that the BJP was diverting attention from governance failures.
“The BJP government has nothing to show for its work. The Leader of Opposition was not allowed to speak on the Governor’s address, and now MLAs from Dalit, backward, tribal, and minority communities have been suspended. This is a deliberate distraction from budget discussions,” he stated.
The Congress party announced a statewide protest on Saturday, demanding an apology from the BJP minister and the revocation of the suspensions. The political face-off has intensified, raising concerns over governance, assembly conduct, and political maneuvering in Rajasthan.
