Opposition MLAs walk out from House as Vasundhara Raje presents interim budget

JAIPUR: Opposition MLAs today walked out from the Rajasthan Assembly when Chief Minister Vasundhara raje was presenting the interim budget, alleging that she had flouted norms by announcing sops in Bharatpur earlier.

Opposition members including those from Congress and NPP wanted to discuss the issue, but Speaker Kailash Meghwal refused any discussion before the budget presentation.

After being refused, the opposition MLAs disrupted the House proceeding for a few minutes. Soon after Leader of the Opposition Rameshwar Dudi announced that they would boycott the session. NPP MLAs and Independent Hanuman Beniwal followed the Congress MLAs and walked out from the House.

As the House reassembled after adjournment following obituary reference to Congress veteran Parasram Maderna, Dudi alleged that the government did not pay homage properly to the departed Jat leader.

The Speaker rejected the allegation and requested him not to raise such issues on a day when the government was to present the vote on account. However, Dudi walked out.

Congress whip Govind Singh Dodasara then asked the state about the status of oil refinery and metro rail projects started by the former Congress government.

NPP MLA Kirori Meena raised objection over announcements made by the government for Bharatpur a couple of days ago, whereas Congress MLA Vishvendra Singh wanted clarification on the state's recommendation to the Centre to include Jat community of Dholpur and Bharatpur in its OBC list.

Independent MLA Hanuman Beniwal also wanted to speak but the Speaker did not allow and warned the Opposition of strict action if they continued to disturb.

After the warning of the Speaker, the Opposition members accused the Speaker of not allowing them to speak, and staged a walkout from the Assembly.