Protest over Una flogging: Cong MLAs suspended from Assembly,

400 workers detained Gandhinagar, Aug 23 (PTI) Around 50 Congress MLAs weretoday suspended from the state Assembly and nearly 400 of itsworkers detained even as the party stepped up its offensiveagainst the BJP government in Gujarat over "atrocities onDalits", including the Una flogging incident. While the Assembly witnessed ruckus over the issue,thousands of party workers took out a ‘Janakrosh rally’against the "oppressive" government. Nearly 400 of them, including senior leaders ShankersinhVaghela, Bharatsinh Solanki, Shaktisinh Gohil, and Rajya SabhaMP Madhusudan Mistry were detained. They were and later let off. Around 50 Congress MLAs were evicted and suspended fora day from the Assembly after they staged a demonstration anddisrupted the proceedings over the Una Dalit thrashingincident of July 11. During a discussion on the issue, Congress members rushedto the well of the House displaying placards dubbing thegovernment as "anti-Dalit" and threw bangles towardsministers. At least 20 of the Opposition members wore body suitbanners and kept up their protest, despite repeated warningsby Speaker Ramanlal Vora on the second and last day of theMonsoon session of the Assembly. As the din continued, the Speaker ordered marshals toevict the Congress MLAs from the House and named and suspendedthem for a day. Subsequently, the Congress MLAs were forciblytaken out of the House. The Speaker said the Opposition had come to the Housewith a pre-planned strategy as more than their concern forDalits they were trying to garner political mileage out of theissue. Speaker did not suspend Opposition leader ShankersinhVaghela and senior legislator Mohansinh Rathwa as theyremained seated during the ruckus, but later they too walkedout protesting the action against their party colleagues. Later, nearly 400 Congress supporters, along with seniorleaders and MLAs, were detained as they took out a marchtowards the Assembly as part of the party’s ‘Janakrosh rally’. They were stopped when they reached the main gate ofthe Assembly, police said.(MORE) PTI KA PJT PD DK GK NMTIR