The first day of the Monsoon Session of the Gujarat Legislative Assembly on Monday witnessed protests by both Congress and AAP MLAs.
Congress MLAs staged a demonstration inside the Assembly premises demanding the resignation of Minister of State for Panchayat and Agriculture Bachubhai Khabad in connection with the alleged corruption case under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in Dahod. AAP MLAs, meanwhile, protested the “poor” condition of roads and highways across the state.
The three-day Monsoon Session began with the Question Hour followed by condolence motions. Five bills are set to be tabled during the Session, while Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel will bring a congratulatory motion on the success of Operation Sindoor.
Carrying posters and raising slogans, Congress members sought Khabad’s removal and a probe into MGNREGA works across Gujarat. The demand follows the arrest of Khabad’s sons, Balvant and Kiran, in connection with the alleged Rs 71-crore MGNREGA scam unearthed by the Dahod District Rural Development Agency (DRDA). An FIR was later lodged by Dahod police against several persons, including government employees, for cheating, forgery, and breach of trust.
In July, the Gujarat Congress had submitted a representation to Governor Acharya Devvrat pressing the same demand. The memorandum read: “An SIT should be formed with people holding judicial positions to conduct an impartial investigation into the widespread scam of crores in the MGNREGA and Nal se Jal schemes across the state – strict action should be taken against those involved in this scam. Therefore, it is requested to order immediate and appropriate action to prevent the open loot of public tax money to eradicate corruption.”
Meanwhile, AAP’s Visavadar MLA Gopal Italia, Jamjodhpur MLA Hemant Khava, and Gariyadhar MLA Sudhir Vaghani reached the Assembly with banners, raising slogans against the condition of roads.
Speaking to the media, Italia said, “The roads of the entire state are in a terrible condition with potholes. Today, on the first day of my Assembly term, I have brought the issue of the people of Gujarat as a representative of the people. We hope that the people who talk about development will be able to see the potholes, the vehicles stuck in these potholes and the pain of people. Since today is my first day, I am very excited, curious and a little nervous. I am curious to know about how this Assembly works, how the people here work, the rules here.”
Italia said that he has asked 18 questions, raised four notices and one short notice — making a total of 25 questions — for his first session as MLA.
