Gujarat Assembly Witnesses Heated Clash Over SC/ST Act Implementation
The Gujarat Legislative Assembly in Gandhinagar descended into chaos on Thursday as Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress legislators engaged in a fierce verbal duel concerning the meetings of a monitoring cell established under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The intense debate, which spilled over from the designated question hour, ultimately necessitated the intervention of Assembly Speaker Shankar Chaudhary to restore order.
Mevani Alleges Irregular Meetings, Government Counters
During the question hour, Independent MLA Jignesh Mevani, who is backed by the Congress, raised a pointed query. He asserted that the Chief Minister is legally mandated to conduct meetings of the state-level monitoring and vigilance committee, but alleged these sessions were not being held at regular intervals. Mevani further referenced a government affidavit submitted to the Gujarat High Court, where authorities had reportedly assured the judiciary that such meetings would be convened regularly. He also inquired whether the Chief Minister had personally met with any victims who had filed formal complaints under the provisions of the SC/ST Act.
In a firm rebuttal, State Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Manisha Vakil categorically dismissed the allegations as "baseless." She informed the House that the monitoring committee meetings are indeed held regularly under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister. "The meetings were held at regular intervals. Specifically, they were conducted in June 2019, September 2024, and December 2025," Minister Vakil stated. She added a pointed remark, noting that MLA Mevani himself had failed to attend these sessions.
Escalation and Accusations of Publicity Stunt
Mevani countered the minister's response by clarifying that while the committee includes Dalit and tribal MLAs and MPs, their attendance is not compulsory. "However, according to the law, it is absolutely compulsory for the Chief Minister to conduct these meetings," he reiterated. This exchange prompted Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi to intervene sharply. He accused Mevani of "raising the issue solely for publicity" and deemed it inappropriate to level such allegations within the sanctum of the Assembly, suggesting they were motivated by a desire for media attention.
This accusation ignited a fiery war of words between the ruling party MLAs and the opposition benches. Speaker Shankar Chaudhary repeatedly implored members, including Mevani, to resume their seats, but the arguments persisted for a considerable duration, disrupting the proceedings.
Post-Question Hour Point of Order
The controversy did not subside with the conclusion of the question hour. Minister Jitu Vaghani subsequently raised a formal point of order. He contended that despite the Speaker's multiple directives for Mevani to be seated and maintain decorum, the MLA had willfully disregarded these instructions, thereby challenging the authority of the Chair. This post-session move underscored the lingering tensions and the procedural ramifications of the earlier clash.
The incident highlights the ongoing political friction in Gujarat's legislative arena concerning the implementation and oversight of crucial social justice laws like the SC/ST Act, with both sides firmly entrenched in their positions.
