The Rajasthan Legislative Assembly witnessed chaotic scenes on Tuesday as the opposition Congress party cornered the state government over incidents of cow slaughter and the demand to grant 'Rajyamata' status to cows, while the uproar, which began during Question Hour, led to the adjournment of the house proceedings twice. Leader of Opposition Tika Ram Jully raised concerns regarding the law and order situation, while the ruling BJP members defended the government's actions, leading to a heated political confrontation.
Controversy Over Cow Slaughter and Rajyamata Status
The issue was triggered by a question from BJP MLA Balmukund Acharya regarding the status of cows and measures against cattle smuggling. In response, Gopalan Minister Joraram Kumawat stated that stringent laws are already in place to prevent cow slaughter in the state. However, Tika Ram Jully expressed dissatisfaction, stating that the government failed to provide a clear answer on whether it intends to grant the 'Rajyamata' (Mother of the State) status to cows. This led to immediate sloganeering by Congress members who accused the government of being evasive.
Display of Posters and Speaker's Intervention
The situation escalated when Tika Ram Jully alleged that a cow slaughter incident occurred near the Hingonia Gaushala in Jaipur last week. He claimed that there were attempts to shield the accused, allegedly linked to the ruling party. As the debate intensified, Congress MLAs began displaying posters inside the house. Speaker Vasudev Devnani expressed strong displeasure over the act, stating that the display of posters is strictly prohibited, while he warned the members that such planned disruptions undermine the dignity of the house and urged them to maintain decorum.
Debate on Traffic Management and Surveillance Infrastructure
During the same session, a discussion on urban infrastructure also led to a verbal spat, while in response to a query by Congress MLA Vikas Chaudhary, Minister of State for Home Jawahar Singh Bedham informed the house that the government is installing 2000 cameras to improve traffic management. The Leader of Opposition mocked the figure, stating that 2000 cameras are required for Jaipur alone, making the state-wide target insufficient. Minister Bedham retaliated by suggesting that the opposition needs to acknowledge the government's phased development approach, leading to further sarcastic exchanges regarding public visibility of traffic issues.
Political Confrontation Between Jully and Bedham
The confrontation turned personal when BJP MLA Gopal Sharma began speaking without the Speaker's permission during the cow slaughter debate. The Speaker directed the Chief Whip, Jogeshwar Garg, to intervene and seat the member. " Minister Bedham replied that the government isn't just moving but "running," and the resulting dust from its progress seemed to be bothering the opposition. The exchange highlighted the deep divide between the two benches on administrative performance.
Repeated Adjournments and House Conduct
As the sloganeering from both sides intensified and the proceedings became unmanageable, Speaker Vasudev Devnani adjourned the house at 11:41 AM until 12:00 PM. This was the second adjournment of the day following the initial disruptions during Question Hour. The opposition continued its protest outside the chamber, demanding a concrete policy on cow protection and accountability for recent incidents, while the treasury benches maintained that the government is committed to its manifesto and is taking all necessary legal actions against offenders.