CHANGING THE LAW

Notwithstanding the protests from the Opposition and criticism from several quarters, including some of its own leaders, the Rajasthan government Monday tabled in the Assembly a bill to replace a controversial ordinance that shields politicians, public servants, serving and former judges and magistrates from being investigated without its prior sanction.

The Ordinance has also been challenged in the Rajasthan High Court.

Amid protests by the Congress leaders and two walkouts by BJP MLA Ghanshyam Tiwari, who had expressed opposition to the ordinance, state home minister Gulab Chand Kataria tabled The Criminal Laws (Rajasthan Amendment) Bill, 2017 and The Code of Criminal Procedure (Rajasthan Amendment) 2017 that seeks to replace a September 7 Ordinance introduced by the BJP government in the state.

The Congress MLAs opposed the Bill and staged walk out, whereas senior BJP MLA Ghanshyam Tiwari staged walk out twice, when was denied to raise point of order by Speaker Kailash Meghwal. Calling the bill an undeclared emergency, Independent MLA Manik Chand Surana opposed the Bill.

Soon after the House assembled for the first day of the ninth session of the 14th Assembly, the deputy Leader of the Opposition, Ramesh Meena, raised objection to the bill.

Parliamentary affairs minister Rajendra Rathore said the government was ready for discussion but the Opposition needs to take it up as per the rules.

Meanwhile, Tiwari requested Speaker Kailash Meghwal several times to allow him to raise a point of order. As Speaker ignored his requests, Tiwari walked out of the House. He returned after some time and again requested the Speaker to

JAIPUR: