Home India Politics Suspension of Rajasthan MLAs nothing serious, says BJP

Suspension of Rajasthan MLAs nothing serious, says BJP

By IANS

New Delhi : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership Sunday termed reports of suspension of its two party legislators in Rajasthan as "nothing serious" and said the issue would be resolved through discussions.

The party's Rajasthan unit chief Mahesh Sharma Sunday suspended two of his Gujjar MLAs Attar Singh Bhadana and Prahlad Gunjal Sunday for having participated in a community meeting held Saturday in Kota to demand tribal status.

The state BJP alleged that the two MLAs moved a resolution in the maha panchayat (mass meeting) not to allow Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje to enter her home district of Jhalawar till a high-powered committee on the community's demands does not submit its report.

The party also served show cause notices to the two MLAs, asking them to explain their conduct within seven days or face expulsion.

Commenting on it, BJP vice-president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said: "This is nothing serious. We are ready to resolve such issues through negotiations and discussions.

"The chief minister and the party's state unit are fully capable of handling all such situations and resolve any contentious issues through negotiations and mutual consent."

Gujjars launched violent protests in the state from May 29 to June 4 demanding tribal status that would fetch them better employment and educational opportunities.

The agitation paralysed Rajasthan for a week with major roads blocked and train services disrupted. At least 25 people were killed and hundreds injured in the violence.

On June 4, the state government and Gujjars reached an understanding, according to which a retired high court judge will head a three-member high-powered committee to look into the demands. The committee is to submit its report in three months.