Speaker’s call for bandh coincides with BJP meet

It is not often that a ruling party calls a bandh, it is even rarer still for a bandh to be called by the Speaker of the state Assembly. But...

It is not often that a ruling party calls a bandh, it is even rarer still for a bandh to be called by the Speaker of the state Assembly. But where MP Speaker Sriniwas Tiwari is concerned, this is par for the course.

The bandh called to coincide with the beginning of the two-day BJP state executive meet in Rewa tomorrow has been announced in a press note issued by the Congress titled ‘Shriniwas Tiwari calls for Rewa bandh on June 14 in reply to the BJP bandh of Dabra and Katni’. The BJP had called for these bandhs to coincide with the visit of Sonia Gandhi to the state.

The bandh call has met with criticism from the BJP. Kailash Vijaivargi, BJP MLA and Indore mayor, who is also the party spokesman, points out: ‘‘Time and again the Speaker has violated the traditions of his office both in and out of the Assembly. The Assembly is supposed to be a watchdog over the Government, instead now it is more like a watch-earthworm.’’

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The BJP Leader of Opposition Babulal Gaur has also condemned the call for a bandh by the Speaker, saying this is not in keeping with the traditions associated with his post.

While Tiwari himself was not available for comment, Congress state president Radhakishen Malviya excused himself, saying: ‘‘I have been travelling in various parts of the state, so I am not aware of the bandh call.’’ Sources close to the Speaker have, however, stated that the bandh has been called in his capacity as an MLA and not as Speaker.

The unsigned press note, declared genuine by Congress spokesman Lalit Srivastava, announces: ‘‘The district Congress has called for satyagraha, chakkajam, demonstrations and bandh on June 14 to protest against the neglect of the development and interests of the Rewa by the Centre.’’

The note adds: ‘‘During Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s visit to Dabra on May 22 and to Katni on May 23, the BJP had observed a bandh. The Congress will retaliate by calling for a bandh when the president of the party and other office-bearers will reach Rewa for the meeting of the state executive.’’