Gujarat Congress, AAP MLAs suspended for a day after walkout over ‘fake sub-inspector’

In his order, the speaker also named Congress MLA Jignesh Mevani for allegedly suggesting the “breaking of rules” of the House to have the discussion. “I am saddened at the happenings in the House today. Despite repeatedly telling AAP and Congress members that the House can be run only as per the rules, they did not agree. What is more serious is that a member of the Congress said, why can’t rules (of the House) be broken, as it was done elsewhere (at Karai)? I feel this is serious for democracy and the Constitution… When member Jignesh Mevani makes such a statement, it is a serious matter and so I am publicly reprimanding him,” Chaudhary said.

The issue of a “fake sub-inspector” training at the Gujarat Police Academy in Karai was raised by Amit Chavda, leader of the Congress legislature party in the Assembly. Chavda said the party had requested a discussion on the issue under Rule 116, and asked if it could be taken up immediately.

“First the recruitment examination papers in the state got leaked. Now one Mayur Tadavi has been found illegally training at a police academy. The chief minister or the home minister should reassure the people that there are no scams in the recruitments for the academy,” Chavda said, adding that his party submitted a request on Tuesday for a discussion on the issue under Rule 116.

Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Home Minister Harsh Sanghvi said the government was ready to discuss the issue on the floor of the House, but as per the legislature’s rules. “We brought in legislation against paper leaks and we discussed it in detail. But a member or a party cannot do it as per its wishes in this House,” Patel said in a rare intervention in the House.

Sanghvi also said that police were conducting a “secret inquiry” after it was found that one Mayur Tadavi from Dabhoi in Vadodara district had trained at the academy for over a month illegally.

“One day two cats fought. Next day their photos appeared in the newspaper and someone asked for the resignation of the municipal commissioner. The solution cannot be found by asking for the resignation of the municipal commissioner. This issue should not be politicised,” Sanghvi said without referring to the Opposition demand for his resignation.

Despite the statements made by Patel and Sanghvi, the arguments continued for over 20 minutes, and Congress MLAs showed placards and shouted slogans against the BJP government. The MLAs walked out after the speaker rejected the Opposition’s demand to hold a discussion under Rule 116.