The Rajasthan Assembly’s Monsoon Session witnessed heavy disruption on its second day on Friday as the government introduced the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill amid protests by Congress legislators. Congress MLAs boycotted the proceedings after the Bill was introduced, following which the Assembly was adjourned sine die. The day’s proceedings lasted only 66 minutes.
As the Assembly proceedings began on Friday morning, Leader of Opposition Tikaram Jully raised the issue of opposition legislators allegedly being stopped at the Assembly’s main gate. He demanded a discussion on the matter in the House.
Jully alleged that the treatment of Congress legislators within the Assembly premises was not in accordance with the democratic process.
The Leader of Opposition also raised the issue of alleged assault involving CJP workers. He demanded a response from the government and alleged that the government’s approach was not impartial in cases involving action against people associated with the opposition.
The Assembly Speaker did not allow the issue to be raised during Question Hour. Congress legislators subsequently intensified their protest, entered the Well of the House and raised slogans against the government.
Congress legislators waved posters and raised slogans against the government in the House. Opposition members levelled political allegations against the government, while BJP legislators responded with slogans against Congress and Rahul Gandhi.
The repeated sloganeering between the two sides disrupted normal parliamentary proceedings. The Assembly Speaker attempted to maintain order, but the continued protests affected the proceedings.
Question Hour and Zero Hour were conducted for limited periods. According to the available information, Question Hour lasted about five minutes, while Zero Hour continued for around 18 minutes. The House was adjourned twice thereafter.
Amid the political disruption, the government introduced the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill in the Rajasthan Assembly. Opposition legislators were protesting while the Bill was introduced.
The UCC concerns a uniform legal framework for certain civil matters, including marriage, divorce, inheritance and family-related matters, for different communities.
After the Bill was introduced, Congress legislators decided to boycott the proceedings and walked out of the House.
Following the Congress legislators’ boycott, the Assembly Speaker adjourned the House sine die. The second day of the Monsoon Session consequently ended after a short sitting.
The proceedings on Friday lasted about 66 minutes. During the sitting, the opposition raised allegations concerning the treatment of Congress legislators at the Assembly gate and alleged assault involving CJP workers.
Leader of Opposition Tikaram Jully raised the issues inside and outside the Assembly. He sought a government response to the allegations that Congress legislators were stopped at the Assembly gate and that CJP workers were assaulted.
Jully said that if violence had taken place against a political organisation or its workers, there should be an impartial investigation. The opposition linked the issues to law and order and democratic rights and demanded government accountability.
BJP legislators also raised slogans against Congress in response to the opposition’s protest. Political slogans concerning Rahul Gandhi were also raised in the House.
The continued sloganeering between the treasury and opposition benches disrupted legislative business, prompting the Assembly Speaker to repeatedly appeal for order.
