Mock funeral stuns House

Amidst intense sloganeering followed by frequent adjournments inboth Houses, the ongoing monsoon sessionwas todaycurtailedbytwo days. Added drama was provided by a mock funeral in the Lower House as a protest againstthe police firing on Dalits on July11, After three adjournments, Assembly Speaker Dattaji Nalawademanaged to rush the dags businessthrough for a second day todayeven as opposition members keptshouting and booing.

As soon as the House assembled, the opposition demandedthe suspension of question hour.Congress members accompaniedby the other opposition parties,took out a "funeral procession"(Vlthal Naik offered to be thecorpse), and laid "the dead bod9’on the table of the legislature secretary. The members were protestingagainst a "government which kills Dalits".

Members were on the podium throughout, clamouring relentlessly, in a semicirde around theSpeaker. The Speaker’s acousticssystem is tucked inside his owntable, so the voices of the protesting opposition members werelouder than that of the Speaker’s. As the pandemonium continued, Chief Minister ManoharJoshu moved a motion condemning the behaviour of Nawab Malik,Bashir Patel, Sohail Lokhandwala,and Narsaiiya Adam for placing "acorpse" on the table of the secretary. ! "In the prevailing circumstances, it is difficult to continuewith the business of the House.Therefore, the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) today decidedto wind up the session tomorrow,"Chief Minister Manohar Joshilater told mediapersons in theCouncil Hall.