Congress protests outside Rajasthan Assembly over BJP leader's 'dadi' remarks
What's the story
The Congress party on Monday held a massive protest outside the Rajasthan Assembly after state minister Avinash Gehlot's comments on former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The row started after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader called Gandhi "your dadi" (grandmother) while speaking about the 'Lakhpati Didi' scheme. "In the 2023-24 budget also, like always, you named the scheme after your 'dadi' (grandmother) Indira Gandhi," he had said.
Twitter Post
Protest outside the Rajasthan Assembly
#WATCH | Jaipur | Police use water cannon against Rajasthan Congress workers who are staging a protest outside the Rajasthan Assembly against the state government over the suspension of six Congress MLAs from the Assembly pic.twitter.com/7rBNQ8Lbjr
— ANI (@ANI) February 24, 2025
Disruptions
Protest leads to assembly adjournments and MLA suspensions
Gehlot's remarks caused a major ruckus in the Assembly, which was adjourned thrice, and six Congress MLAs were suspended. The suspended members included PCC chief Govind Singh Dotasara, Ramkesh Meena, Amin Kagzi, Jakir Hussain, and Sanjay Kumar. Even after suspension, these MLAs sat on a "dharna" inside the assembly premises, demanding an apology from Gehlot and revocation of their suspension.
Defense
Gehlot defends remarks, offers to remove comments from record
Defending his remarks, Gehlot said they weren't made out of disrespect. He said that the "elderly in the family are addressed as Dadi." The minister also offered to get his comments removed from assembly records if Congress found them objectionable. "I am ready to abide by whatever decision my party and the leader of the BJP legislature party make," he added.