Bhopal: Clad only in Gandhian attire- white ‘dhoti’ and carrying ‘lathi (stick)’ in his hand, Congress legislator Ram Kishore Dogne arrived in the State assembly premises on Wednesday drawing attention to the problem of inadequate water supply in his assembly constituency. Dogne kept the ‘lathi’ outside before entering the House, which witnessed heated exchanges between ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and main opposition Congress members over his attire and an adjournment for 10 minutes. Soon after he entered the House during the Zero Hour, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Narottam Mishra and Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Gopal Bhargava objected to his manner of raising the issue by coming semi-clad.
“This is being done only to come in media. Opposition members come inside the House with ‘kamandal’ on some occasions and with ‘lathis’ on others,” said Mishra. Mentioning about the presence of women members in the House, Bhargava underlined the need for maintaining decorum in the House.
Meanwhile, Congress members including Ramniwas Rawat, Govind Singh, Sunderlal Tiwari and Tarun Bhanot supported Dogne. Congress members pointed out that Mahatma Gandhi and former Vidhan Sabha member Ramlakhan Sharma used to attire in a similar manner. Both sides continued heated exchanges over the matter. Amid the din, Speaker Sitasaran Sharma ruled that Dogne came in the manner as he was facing certain problems. However, he said that he agreed to the Minister’s objection and observed that the House is meant for discussion and not exhibition.
The Speaker then moved ahead with the proceedings and took up discussion on calling attention notices. However, Congress members demanded that Dogne be allowed to place his problem before the House. Sharma said that the member would be allowed to raise his issue after the discussion on calling attention notices. However, Congress members created a ruckus following which the House was adjourned for 10 minutes.
Later, Dogne told media in the Vidhan Sabha premises that water from Tawa river is being supplied in all the assembly segments of Harda district except Harda constituency, which he represents, thereby causing loss to crops. He would continue to remain dressed in the attire as long as his problem is not resolved.
