Madhya Pradesh assembly speaker Girish Gautam defends his action

BHOPAL: Assembly speaker Girish Gautam defended his action of clearing all the business of the house amid pandemonium and empty Congress benches.
Talking to TOI, the speaker said, “There is nothing new, this has happened in the past as well.” However, leader of opposition Kamal Nath called it ‘undemocratic’.
Gautam said, “ How can I run the house when the Congress was adamant to create ruckus.” When asked if there was enough time to persuade the Congress during the lunch as the business that he had transacted was scheduled for the post lunch session, the Speaker said, “I tried but the Congress did not cooperate.”
The Speaker also denied that he was under pressure from the legislative affairs minister Narottam Mishra when he did not allow Kamal Nath to speak .Immediately before the CM tabled the one line resolution on OBC reservation, Kamal Nath rose to speak but the Speaker had said that he would be allowed to speak after the resolution was passed.
When Nath was denied permission, he said, “You have said that you would give me a chance to speak.” But the Speaker replied,” Haan lekin ab woh ho gaya. (Yes but now it has happened ( resolution is passed) . Narottam Mishra also objected to Kamal Nath’s attempt to speak, saying that the resolution had beenpassed .
Jitu Patwari of Congress was heard saying, “You are under pressure from Narottam Mishra”. Kamal Nath said, “ This is an undemocratic style of functioning, not only in assembly but also in every field and there is no institution left .”