The entire Opposition was suspended for ‘‘gross indiscipline’’ after its deputy leader repeatedly held up a CD in defiance of the Chair, and the Gujarat Assembly was adjourned sine die today, cutting short by a day the four-day monsoon session.The suspension came at recess amid unruly scenes. In the absence of the Opposition, the treasury benches took a little over half-an-hour to pass three Bills and transact other business, following which Speaker Mangaldas Patel adjourned the Assembly.It all started with Deputy Leader of the Opposition Bharatsinh Solanki flashing a CD containing footage of alleged police atrocities on farmers protesting against the recent hike in power tariff.Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ashok Bhatt raised a point of order and followed it up with a proposal to suspend Solanki when the latter persisted in holding up the CD. Even Chief Minister Narendra Modi intervened in the debate. After a heated exchange, the Speaker held that the power to name a member and suspend him rests with him alone.Bhatt and others on the treasury bench, however, argued that the Leader of the House and the Parliamentary Affairs Minister, too, could move the proposal. Opposition MLAs upheld the Speaker’s view.When the matter remained unresolved, the Speaker adjourned the House for 30 minutes. When the House reassembled, the debate began on a hotter note. When Leader of the Opposition Amarsinh Chaudhary stated that Bhatt had moved the proposal in haste, the Law Minister retorted, saying Solanki’s action amounted to indiscipline and called for his suspension. While allowing the point of order, the Speaker stated that Solanki was disregarding the Chair by flashing the CD. But he took a lenient view: while putting the motion to vote, he suggested that suspension be restricted to the day.Rejecting the Speaker’s suggestion, Bhatt said the matter could be discussed on Friday, the last day of the session. The Opposition tried in vain to get the ruling benches take note of the Speaker’s suggestion. The treasury bench’s refusal led to commotion. In the pandemonium, Bhatt moved the proposal to suspend the two MLAs. Later, the entire Opposition rose and shouted slogans.Ironically, the second item on Thursday’s agenda was a proposal by four Congress MLAs seeking the Speaker’s removal. Since the Congress members had been suspended, it could not be taken up. Later, Chaudhary accused the government of being ‘‘autocratic’’ and said the suspension was ‘‘undemocratic.’’ Solanki said Modi had pressured the Speaker into having Congress members suspended.
