'Dadi' Reference to Indira Gandhi Triggers Major Political Chaos in Rajasthan Assembly

Jaipur- Political tensions reached a new height in the Rajasthan Assembly on Monday when six suspended Congress MLAs, including state party chief Govind Singh Dotasara, refused to leave the House despite Speaker Vasudev Devnani's directives. The defiance led to the adjournment of proceedings until noon as chaos erupted during the Question Hour.

The ongoing political crisis, now in its fourth day, stems from a controversial referenceto former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Avinash Gehlot. Congress legislators have maintained their protest by camping inside the Assembly for three consecutive nights.

The controversy began on February 21 during Question Hour when Minister Gehlot mentioned a scheme named after "your Dadi Indira Gandhi" (your grandmother Indira Gandhi). Congress members immediately took offense at the phrasing, viewing it as disrespectful to the former Prime Minister.

Despite Parliamentary Affairs Minister Jogaram Patel's attempts to mediate by explaining that "grandmother" was meant as a term of respect, the situation quickly escalated.

The intensifying protests led to multiple adjournments, culminating in the suspension of six Congress MLAs for the remainder of the budget session. Those suspended include Govind Singh Dotasra, Deputy Leader of Opposition Ramkesh Meena, Amin Kagzi, Zakir Hussain Gasavat, Hakeem Ali Khan and Sanjay Kumar.

Efforts to resolve the deadlock continue, with Parliamentary Affairs Minister Jogaram Patel and Minister of State for Home Jawahar Singh Bedham meeting Opposition Leader Tika Ram Jully. The ministers had also engaged in late-night negotiations with Congress MLAs before consulting the Speaker.

Monday morning began with the Congress Legislature Party meeting within the Assembly premises to plan their strategy. However, when the session commenced, Congress MLAs stormed into the well of the House, raising slogans and creating disruptions. Despite the Speaker's repeated requests for suspended members to exit, they remained firm in their protest.

The suspension came through a proposal moved by Chief Whip Jogeshwar Garg in response to the escalating protests. However, rather than quelling the unrest, the disciplinary action appears to have further entrenched the political standoff, with Congress legislators maintaining their protest inside the Assembly.