BJP president Amit Shah received a grand welcome from his party MlAs in the House during Budget Session of Gujarat Assembly on Monday. Shah, who is also an MlA from Naranpura Assembly constituency in Ahmedabad, attended Assembly session for the first time after he alleviated as BJP national president as Narendra Modi took over as Prime Minister of India.
As he entered inside the main gate of the Assembly complex, senior Minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama and BJP chief whip Pankaj Desai welcomed him with garland amid chanting of ‘Vade Mataram’ and ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ by the saffron party MlAs. As per rule sitting MlAs have to attend House once in six months. Before attending the session, he made it a point to meet Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel.
Meanwhile, 20 Congress MlAs were suspended from the House for the day over the issue of loss to farmers because of unseasonal rain. The unseasonal rain in many parts of the State over the last fortnight have damaged standing crops in some areas while potato farmers in north Gujarat have been affected due to a surplus in production but inadequate cold storage capacity.
Congress chief whip Balawantsinh Rajput demanded discussion on losses suffered by the farmers due to the unseasonal rains and hailstorms. The demand was rejected by Speaker Ganapat Vasava saying that he would schedule discussion in one or two days. However, Congress MlAs kept insisting on immediate discussion. But it was repeatedly turned down by the Speaker.
As a result of it, enraged Congress MlAs rushed to the well of the House shouting slogans against the BJP-ruled Gujarat Government. As the situation went out of control, Vasava suspended all 20 MlAs from the House for one day. Protesting the decision, leader of Opposition Shankersinh Vaghela too walked out of the House.