Jaipur, February 4 (IANS). During the discussion on the Governor’s address in the Rajasthan Assembly on Wednesday, a heated debate was witnessed between the members of the ruling party and the opposition. Both the parties came face to face on issues ranging from unemployment to tribal rights, due to which there was ruckus in the House several times and proceedings were disrupted.
During the discussion on the Governor’s address, former minister and Congress MLA Shanti Dhariwal used objectionable language while speaking on youth unemployment and skill development, which created a controversy in the House.
Dhariwal said that if crores of youth are not made employable by giving skill training, then the increasing youth population will become a big challenge for the country.
Government Chief Whip Jogeshwar Garg took a jibe at this and said without naming anyone, “Everyone in this country, except one youth, has got employment.”
Dhariwal retorted that he understood only half of what Garg said. During this time he used objectionable words in the House.
After Dhariwal’s speech, the Chief Whip objected and said that as per his old behaviour, Dhariwal has once again used unparliamentary language and demanded its removal from the proceedings.
On this, the Speaker of the Assembly ordered to remove the objectionable comments from the proceedings of the House. It is noteworthy that even before this, Shanti Dhariwal has been in controversies regarding similar statements and later he has also apologized to the House.
During the same debate, Bharat Adivasi Party (BAP) MLA from Chaurasi Anil Katara accused the government of ignoring the tribal community and raised the demand for a separate Bhil state.
Katara alleged that despite the claims of ‘double engine government’, forests in tribal areas are being destroyed, land is being snatched and mining is being done in the mountains. He also said that the recruitments are not being done as per the reservation rules.
Katara said, “If the tribal community continues to be insulted and ignored, the only way out will be our demand for a separate Bhil state.” He said that this movement will be carried out from the streets to the assembly.
Congress MLA Ramila Kharia also made sharp comments during the debate, accusing the Tribal Area Development (TAD) Minister of taking arbitrary decisions. He said the coordinators were removed without notice and were not reinstated even after the court’s intervention.
Accusing the minister of bias in appointments, Khadiya said that people from outside the TSP area were appointed in tribal areas under pressure from relatives. He also raised questions on the delay in teachers’ salaries and the quality of nutritional food being provided in Anganwadi centres.
Responding to these allegations, the TAD Minister said that a committee will be formed under the chairmanship of Kharia, which will investigate the issues raised.
Earlier in the day, several heated exchanges were witnessed between the ruling party and the opposition during Question Hour and Zero Hour.
Urban Development Minister Jhabar Singh Kharra also had a heated debate with opposition members on questions related to homeless families and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. Due to continuous uproar and disruption, the assembly proceedings were finally adjourned till 11 am on Thursday.
–IANS
AMT/DKP
