Gurugram: A Congress MLA in Haryana needs to enter the meeting donning a shroud with ‘Jai Siya Ram’, quatrains of Tulsidas and issues of his constituency printed on it. Speaker Gian Chand Gupta has, nevertheless, refused to provide him permission however the MLA from Faridabad NIT, Neeraj Sharma, is unrelenting and is providing to be inspected if there’s something unparliamentary about his costume.
Sharma, who was chosen the “Best MLA” by the meeting in 2022, had first donned a shroud of two yards of white fabric on 17 January when the Manohar Lal Khattar-led BJP-JJP authorities authorities delayed sanction of Rs 27 crore for civic work in his constituency regardless of a promise through the winter session.
Sharma wrote to the Speaker Sunday stating that he would attend the upcoming session of the Haryana Vidhan Sabha sporting the shroud — a plea to which Gupta responded by saying the costume would “violate the decorum” of the home.
Sharma had on 26 January been stopped by the police from attending the Republic Day parade in Panipat the place Governor Bandaru Dattatreya was to unfurl the tricolour due to his costume, and was detained in a relaxation home until chief of opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda lastly “rescued” him.
Fearing that he may very well be stopped from attending the funds session ranging from 20 February due to his costume, Sharma wrote to the Speaker informing him in regards to the circumstances below which he had been compelled to don a “shroud” within the chilly climate and knowledgeable him of his intention to attend the upcoming session donning the apparel.
“The reason why I am writing this letter is to inform you that I am not wearing black clothes, and no unparliamentary language is written on my clothes. It has the name of Prabhu Shri Ram, a Swastik mark of Sanatan Dharma, quatrains of Tulsidas, and some problems of my assembly constituency painted on it. I am also sending my pictures in these clothes to you, and seeking your appointment so that you can get my clothes checked by any experts before the session starts so that the way the police misbehaved with me at Panipat on Republic Day is not repeated,” stated Sharma in his letter, which ThePrint has accessed.
Answering a query on the topic throughout a press convention in Chandigarh Tuesday, Gupta made it clear that Sharma wouldn’t be allowed to enter the Vidhan Sabha within the garments as a result of it was towards the decorum of the meeting.
When the media identified that Sharma had been chosen as one of the best MLA by the Vidhan Sabha in 2022, the Speaker stated the award may very well be withdrawn if the MLA didn’t mend his methods.
Sharma shot off one other letter to Gupta Wednesday, requesting him to provide him an appointment for 7 February in order that his garments may very well be inspected.
“I wrote to you on 28 January about the misbehaviour with me by the police and also spoke to you over the phone. However, I have not received any response. Now, we have a meeting of the Congress Legislature Party in Chandigarh on 7 February. If you give me an appointment for that day, my clothes can be inspected by experts. There is nothing unparliamentary written on my clothes. I am ready to remove anything found objectionable on my clothes,” Sharma wrote. ThePrint has seen the letter.
When ThePrint contacted Gupta for a response Friday, he maintained that the foundations didn’t enable any MLA to violate the decorum of the meeting.
“The rules prescribe that no MLA can bring banners or placards in the assembly. But Sharma wants to enter the State Assembly with a dress which is itself a banner,” Gupta defined.
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‘Stepmotherly treatment to my constituency’
Contacted by ThePrint Friday, Sharma maintained that the meeting was his second house and the Speaker was his guardian.
“In my letters as well as in my telephonic communication with the Speaker, I have clarified that his dress has Prabhu Shri Ram’s name painted on it. If he has an objection to it, I will get it removed. The dress has the Swastik mark of Sanatan Dharma. If the Speaker has an objection, I am ready to remove it. The dress has quatrains of Tulsidas from Ramcharitmanas. If the Speaker has an objection, I can remove it. And my dress has the problems of my constituency painted on it. As MLA, I must highlight the problems of my people,” Sharma stated.
He additionally stated he was stunned to learn Gupta’s assertion within the media that his “Best MLA” award may very well be withdrawn.
“I wonder if there is any rule to withdraw an award. I can return my award in protest against the stepmotherly treatment being given to my constituency. But no one has the right to withdraw the award conferred on me,” stated Sharma.
When requested in regards to the withdrawal of Sharma’s award, Speaker Gupta advised ThePrint that the choice was made based mostly on the general conduct of legislators, but when Sharma continued to behave on this method, the award may very well be taken again.
Earlier than this, in March 2022, the MLA had eliminated his garments and footwear through the funds session of the meeting and introduced he would don unstitched garments until his demand for motion towards an alleged rip-off within the Faridabad municipal company was met.
(Edited by Nida Fatima Siddiqui)
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