‘Insult to democracy’: Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot reads from last year’s budget, sparks furore in Assembly

Soon, CM’s OSD Shashi Kant Sharma ran to inform Chief Whip Mahesh Joshi, who whispered to Gehlot to stop his address. As CM asked why, Joshi pointed out that it is the old speech. CM’s Principal Secretary Kuldeep Ranka and Additional Chief Secretary (Finance) Akhil Arora also spoke to Joshi who came next to the Officers’ Gallery.

As the CM stopped his speech and BJP MLAs quickly realised the error, they stormed the well in protest. Leading the protest, Leader of Opposition Gulab Chand Kataria engaged in a verbal duel with Speaker C P Joshi, while state president Satish Poonia and others stormed the well, with BJP MLAs calling it an insult to democracy. Amid the ruckus, Joshi adjourned the House for half an hour till 11:42 am.

When the House reconvened, with BJP MLAs still in the well, Joshi said that the proceedings up till now will be expunged. Kataria said that such a development has happened for the first time; Joshi responded that what has happened is unfortunate, with Kataria shooting back that the budget has sanctity.

Kataria raised an issue on two points: first, that how can an “outsider” read the budget and know that it’s wrong, hence it must have leaked; second, that the Governor has set the date and time for tabling of the budget, hence the House should be suspended.

Deputy Leader of Opposition Rajendra Rathore said that as per Article 202 of the Constitution and Rule 138 of Rajasthan Assembly’ Rules of Procedure, the day and time are set by the Governor, hence House should be postponed, Business Advisory Meeting (BAC) be called, and another date be set for tabling the budget.

However, Cabinet minister B D Kalla pointed out neither of the two specify the time. He said that the Rule 138 states that, “The Annual Financial Statement … shall be presented to the House on such day as the Governor may direct.” Joshi said that it was a human error, and has not happened for the first time.

Gehlot then said he was reading “one page mistakenly” and that there is no question of leak. As BJP continued to protest, Joshi, an hour into the day’s proceedings, asked Gehlot to start his budget speech.

However, before beginning his speech, Gehlot requested the opposition to go back to their chairs. Amidst this, Kataria insisted that the CM should apologise, as the BJP MLAs returned to the chairs.

Joshi then asked Gehlot to stop and engaged with the Opposition MLAs. As Parliamentary Affairs minister Shanti Dhariwal stood up to respond, BJP MLAs again got agitated and stormed the well once again.

Amid the ruckus, Gehlot requested the Opposition to stop their protest. However, as they persisted, Gehlot walked out of the House at 12:11 pm, leading Joshi to adjourn the House again for 15 minutes.

When the House reconvened at 12:26 pm, Gehlot said that, “I was myself confused…I felt sorry at that time too. Maybe you didn’t hear it. Now I feel sorry again that a mistake was made.”

He said that a correction was made by former CM Vasundhara Raje too, prompting Raje to stand up and react sharply at Gehlot: “What you have done, that is sheer carelessness. No CM comes with his papers in this manner without reading the budget. If it happens like this, then I feel sorry for what will happen to Rajasthan. Hence, don’t raise this here.”

Post that Gehlot finally restarted his budget address.