Rajasthan Assembly Speaker Advocates for Equitable Speaking Opportunities in House
In a significant address during the ongoing Budget Session, Assembly Speaker Vasudev Devnani emphasized the critical need for a fair and balanced approach to allotting speaking opportunities in the House. His remarks come amid escalating controversy over participation disparities that have sparked tensions among lawmakers.
Speaker Highlights Alarming Disparity in Participation
Addressing both the treasury and Opposition benches on Friday, Devnani underscored that equitable participation is fundamental to the healthy functioning of the legislature. He pointed out a concerning trend where some members frequently engage in budget debates, while others are consistently sidelined.
"Some members get to participate in almost every budget debate, while others do not get a chance even once. This is not a healthy practice," Devnani stated, urging party leaders and whips to ensure broader representation.
To illustrate the severity of the issue, the Speaker informed the House that 18 Opposition MLAs and 23 ruling party MLAs had not spoken a single word so far in the Budget Session. "This is an alarming situation. Every elected representative must get an opportunity to raise issues concerning their constituencies," he asserted.
Recent Tensions and Procedural Violations
Devnani's comments followed recent disruptions, including a standoff over Congress MLA Shravan Kumar not being allowed to speak, which led to a brief boycott by Congress members on Wednesday. Referring to this incident, the Speaker explained that he had already finalized the list of speakers and sought clarification when another name was added unexpectedly.
"I already decided the list of speakers. Despite that, when I saw another name included, I sought clarification from the Chair. Once the Speaker takes a decision, it must be respected," he emphasized.
He accused both ruling and Opposition parties of improperly adding names to the speakers' list after it had been finalized, labeling this practice as a violation of established procedure. Devnani warned that strict adherence to the approved list is essential to prevent confusion and maintain decorum.
Call for Advance Planning and Shared Responsibility
To avert similar disputes in the future, the Speaker suggested finalizing the names of members scheduled to speak well in advance. He stressed that maintaining fairness and decorum in legislative proceedings is a shared responsibility of all parties involved.
"Speaking slots should not be concentrated among a select few," Devnani reiterated, highlighting the importance of inclusive participation for effective governance.
The issue was raised during Zero Hour, and after the brief standoff, proceedings resumed smoothly. Devnani's proactive stance aims to foster a more collaborative and representative legislative environment in the Rajasthan Assembly.
