Pained Speaker to go on ‘fast’ track

Pained by the violent incidents on Thursday when Congress members entered into his office, broke window panes, table top glass, flung files and chairs, Speaker Dhirubhai Shah announced in the House on Friday that he intended to go on a fast for 72 hours from March 30. Friday proved to be a pretty tame and uneventful after the stormy affair on Thursday in the House due to lack of the Opposition Congress members, who have been Suspended from the House for the remaining session.

"The incidents that took place right from the day of commencement of the Assembly session on March 19, the violent events in the House where mikes were broken and files were flung, and finally the attack on the Speaker’s chamber surpass all limits of decorum," Mr. Shah said in a speech tinged with sarcasm. "In an effort to uphold parliamentary democracy and established traditions set by Mahatma Gandhi, I have decided to go on a fast for 72 hours from March 30, the day after the Assembly session ends on March 29, Mr. Shah said.

Efforts made by parliamentary affairs minister Suresh Mehta. small and medium irrigation projects minister Nitin Patel and MLAs Ashok Bhatt and Gordhan Jhadafiya failed to impress the Speaker.

"The incidents of disgrace of the House and the increasing incidence of lack of decorum and dignity shown at the time of the governor’s speech has deeply pained me. The governor is the constitutional head of the state and one should show honor and respect to his position." he said, The Speaker also expressed his displeasure at the use of expletives in the I-louse. Parliamentary affairs minister Suresh Mehta appealed to the Speaker to reconsider his decision and said this will only compound the anxiety being felt by the BJP from the recent events. ‘Although we can well understand the emotion and the trepidation behind his decision, this may invite allegations that may further disgrace the Speaker. Those who have caused the disgrace to the House and the Speaker should be taking such actions," Mr. Mehta said.

Earlier, speaking to reporters in his chamber, Mr. Shah said he had made all efforts to thrash out a compromise between Mr. Mehta and leader of the Opposition Amarsinh Chaudhary and had given them ample time to reconsider their offers.

I had tried making them see reason that you are both former chief ministers and senior members but things got stuck as one party persisted for an apology while the other refused it," Mr. Shah said. Even when the Congress members had come breaking the door open I had told them to see reason and asked them if they had a representation to make they are free to do it, but since the rowdy behaviour continued I was forced to leave the chamber.

When asked whether the doors of compromise, to bring the Congress back into the House, were open, he said he had no grievance against anyone and his doors were always open.

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Republished from Asian Age