The winter session of the Chhattisgarh Assembly shook off the rough side of the fourth day with violence and exchange of heated words between the ruling party and the Opposition. The legislators of the Congress entered the House carrying posters on their chests to protest the purported attempt of renaming Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). Their symbolic protest caused instant protest on the part of the members of the treasury benches who described the act as a breach of the decorum of the Assembly.
When the disturbance grew more intense, the Speaker came to the rescue, and quoted the rules of the House, saying that posters and banners were not allowed in the Assembly. Before attending Question Hour, the Congress MLAs were instructed to take off the posters. It was very explicit on the part of the Chair that legislators have the right to voice concerns and to dissent, but this has to be done within the context of accepted parliamentary rules.
The Opposition insisted that their protest was to attract attention as they termed it as a move to water down the legacy and motive of flagship rural employment scheme by renaming it. They said that such symbolic protests are usually common to raise awareness among people and cannot be perceived as a disruption but rather as a democracy of dissent.
The ruling party on the other hand insisted that the Assembly should run smoothly and that there cannot be any kind of protest that can hamper the proceedings or break any kind of protocol. Bench members asked the Speaker to maintain strict observance of rules to get the business of the legislature going without obstruction.
Following numerous requests by the Chair, legislators of the Congress finally adhered to the instruction and Question Hour was given. Nonetheless, the strains provided an emphasis on the political polarization on welfare schemes and how they are portrayed.
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