Dalit murder rocks Guj budget session

The Vijay Rupani-led BJP government in Gujarat got its first taste of the shape of things to come on the opening day of the budget session on Monday when a revitalized opposition party Congress forced Governor OP Kohli to cut short his speech raising a storm over a Dalit activist’s suicide.

A rejuvenated opposition which now commands a presence of 77 legislators against its previous best of sixty demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Rupani over the issue of Dalit activist Bhanubhai Vankar’s death, wastage of Narmada waters and farmers woes.

There were repeated disruptions as the Congress-led opposition by a new youthful leader Paresh Dhanani hauled the government over the issue of the looming water crisis, the suicide of Dalit activist Vankar and the critical agrarian issues. The issues provided enough grist to the opposition to take on the ruling party. With the governor being forced to abandon his speech within five minutes, it was taken as read.

Speaker Rajendra Trivedi had to adjourn the House for 45 minutes after the opposition led din refused to die down.

“Gujarat is marching on the path of comprehensive progress. At the core of My Government lays the resolve to provide the benefits of the welfare schemes in a definite, speedy and just manner,” claimed Kohli in his speech.