Patel concedes Opposition demand

GANDHINAGAR, July 1: In a conciliatory gesture today, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party BJP in Gujarat agreed to revoke the suspension of ...

GANDHINAGAR, July 1: In a conciliatory gesture today, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party BJP in Gujarat agreed to revoke the suspension of 13 Opposition members of the Vidhan Sabha, and also gave up its insistence on an immediate discussion on the no-confidence motion. The House will discuss the no-confidence motion on July 8.

Initially, both the treasury benches and the Opposition appeared unwilling to relent. The matter was sorted out at a meeting which leader of Opposition Amarsinh Chaudhary and his senior colleagues had with Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Suresh Mehta in Speaker Dhirubhai Shah8217;s chamber.

Immediately after the meeting, Mehta moved a motion for revoking the suspensions, which was adopted by a voice vote, clearing the way for the return of suspended members. Earlier, other Opposition members attended the House during question hour, but did not participate in the proceedings in protest against the suspensions.

The suspensions were ordered on Tuesdaywhen members of the Congress, the Rashtriya Janata Party RJP and the Janata Dal stalled the proceedings in defiance of the chair, demanding that the government explain its failure to control the price of edible oil. They did not allow Finance Minister Vajubhai Vala to present the budget for about 20 minutes.

On Wednesday, the no-confidence motion, jointly sponsored by the Opposition, was admitted by the Speaker. After the House gave its consent to the one-line motion, the Speaker ruled that a discussion would take place after three days. But the Chief Minister sprang a surprise on the opposition, suggesting an immediate discussion.

Caught unawares, Amarsinh Chaudhary said the rules provided for a discussion after three days. Besides, 8220;we are not ready for a discussion today8221;, said Amarsinh Chaudhary, and pointed out that as many as 13 members of the Opposition could not participate in the discussion as they had been suspended. Suresh Mehta agreed that, under rules, the Speaker had the discretion toset a time for discussion, but he pointed out that the House could also take a decision in the matter. Health Minister Ashok Bhat said the opposition shouldn8217;t have given the notice if it was not ready for a discussion.

After some procedural wrangling, in which Chaudhary quoted a precedent in support of his contention, the Speaker suggested that the two sides meet in his chamber to sort out the matter. At the meeting, the BJP agreed to accommodate the Opposition viewpoint.