JOIN USThe winter session of the Rajasthan Assembly began with the boycott of the governor’s speech by CPM members.
They were protesting against the “inaction” of the government to provide relief to farmers who had suffered huge losses due to crop loss during the recent cold wave. As soon as acting governor Shiv Raj Patil began to read out the speech, CPM members came to the well of the House and took out damaged crop samples hidden in their briefcases.
Patil, however, continued his speech. The protesting CPM members were soon joined by independent member Golma Devi and suspended BJP member Hanuman Beniwal. After a few minutes of shouting at the well of the House, they boycotted the governor’s speech.
The main opposition BJP did not join the boycott though it made common cause with the issue. Patil’s hour-long speech highlighted the achievements of the government in various fields. The House then took up the issue of the suspension of BJP member Bhawani Singh Rajawat.Rajawat was suspended for a year for throwing a shoe at the ruling party’s MLAs in the last Assembly session.
Congress chief Raghu Sharma then moved a motion in the House withdrawing the suspension. It was passed by a voice vote. Former chief minister and opposition leader in the Assembly Vasundhara Raje said farmers had suffered huge losses due to the unprecedented frost and cold wave in the state. She said the government must announce compensation to farmers and waive their electricity bills.