Congress stages walkout over farmers issue in Rajasthan Assembly

Opposition Congress Monday created a ruckus in Rajasthan Assembly over the issue of farmers’ deaths and compensation for crop losses, and later staged a walkout in protest against the Speaker’s ruling which did not allow recording of their words.

After 4-days of recess when the House assembled for Question Hour, Congress MLAs led by Opposition Whip Govind Singh Dotasar started protesting over the issues of farmers’ worsening condition, suicides, and compensation for crop damage following unseasonal rains in the state.

Amidst the uproar, the Congress MLAs raised anti-Chief Minister and anti-government slogans as the Speaker called the first questioner. Even as Energy Minister Pushpendra Singh Rai replied to the main and several supplementary questions, the answers could not be heard due to noisy scenes.

Before Speaker Kailash Meghwal asked the Assembly reporters not to record Congress members’ words, Dotasar alleged that while Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje was touring in Japan, farmers were dying in Rajasthan villages.

Dotasar was joined by other Congress MLAs, Ramesh Meena, Shakuntla Rawat, Sukhram Vishoni, Dheeraj Gurjar who also raised their slogans like “Kisan Virodhi Sarkar hai, Sarkar Japan mein hai… Kisano ke aansu poncho, kisan atmahatya kar raha hai… sarkar rahat nahin de rahi hai (The chief minister is in Japan and the government is anti-farmer… The farmers’ tears should be wiped, they are committing suicide… The government is not extending compensation to them)”.

The Congress MLAs then staged a stormy walkout after about 15 minutes of creating uproarious scenes.

During Zero Hour when senior Congress member Pradhyuman Singh raised the issue of the bumper potato crop being sold in Dholpur at Re 1 per kg, other Congress members led by Dotasar revived the farmers’ issue on which the Speaker Meghwal warned them not to continue their protest.

As Speaker questioned the absence of Leader Of Opposition Ramnarayan Dudi, and remarked there were internal differences between Congress members, Opposition Whip announced a second walkout from the house.

A few minutes later Independent MLA Hanuman Beniwal also staged a walkout blaming the BJP government for its anti-farmer policy.

After they left the house, the Speaker said it was most unfortunate that the opposition was not playing a positive role, and they were busy protesting, sloganeering and interrupting the proceedings.

Speaker categorically said, “I ask Opposition members to run the house peacefully”.

Parliamentary Minister R S Rathore also condemned Congress’ behaviour saying the MLAs were doing this due to internal differences in their party.

Source:: Indian Express