Six Congress MLAs have been suspended from the Rajasthan Assembly due to a controversy surrounding a minister's remark about 'dadi' (grandmother).

A ruckus broke out in the Rajasthan assembly on Friday following a comment made by the state’s social justice and empowerment minister, Avinash Gehlot, regarding former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. This incident led to the suspension of six Congress MLAs for the remainder of the budget session.

During the assembly session, Gehlot commented, “In the 2023-24 budget, as always, you named the scheme for working women's hostels after your 'dadi' (grandmother) Indira Gandhi.” In response, Congress MLAs protested by storming the well of the assembly and demanding an apology from the minister.

Tikaram Jully, the leader of the opposition in the Rajasthan assembly, requested that the "inappropriate word" used by Gehlot be removed from the official records. State Congress chief Govind Singh Dotasara also called for the statement to be expunged and for the minister to apologize. He attempted to approach the speaker during the protest, which led to the marshals being called in.

The proceedings of the assembly had to be adjourned three times due to the uproar caused by the minister's remarks. Several ministers and MLAs from the ruling BJP countered the opposition's accusations vehemently. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Jogaram Patel stated that there was nothing unparliamentary about the term "dadi."

As Congress MLAs continued to enter the well of the House, the assembly was adjourned for half an hour during the Question Hour. When the session resumed, Congress leaders persisted in their sloganeering, prompting the speaker to announce another adjournment until 2 PM. However, by 2 PM, Congress members were still shouting slogans, leading to yet another adjournment until 4 PM.

When the assembly reconvened at 4 PM, Government Chief Whip Jogeshwar Garg criticized the opposition’s actions, saying, "The speed and intent with which they approached the chair and their proximity to the Speaker is definitely condemnable and not excusable." He then requested that the following members be suspended for the remainder of the current budget session: Govind Singh Dotasara, Ramkesh Meena, Amin Kagzi, Jakir Hussain, Hakim Ali, and Sanjay Kumar.

The assembly passed the suspension proposal by voice vote, after which Speaker Vasudev Devnani adjourned the House until 11 AM on February 24. After the adjournment for the day, Congress MLAs began a dharna in the well of the House.

https://x.com/INCRajasthan/status/1892901258169573591

Earlier, Jully took to X (formerly Twitter) to label the minister's comment as "shameless" and "indecent." Dotasra also echoed this sentiment, stating that "Rajasthan will not tolerate the insult of Indira ji. BJP Minister Avinash Gehlot, who commented on former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, should apologize." 

Minister Patel defended the language used, explaining, "Today, all our ministers answered the questions effectively. The opposition became completely agitated. Words like dada, dadi, mama, and mami (grandfather, grandmother, uncle, aunt) are not unparliamentary; rather, they are respectful terms. Mahatma Gandhi is referred to as 'dada.' If former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi is called 'dadi,' I personally believe that it is not unparliamentary. It is a respectful term."