A heated exchange erupted in the Gujarat Legislative Assembly on Tuesday between BJP and Congress members after the Speaker denied permission for a short discussion on LPG and petrol shortages amid the West Asia war. BJP labelled the Congress demand a premeditated conspiracy to divert attention from the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill tabled that day. The Speaker rejected it, noting a prior notice under Rule 116 had been accepted.
The Gujarat Legislative Assembly witnessed a heated exchange on Tuesday after Congress MLA Amit Chavda requested permission under Rule 108 for a short duration discussion on LPG and petrol shortages in the state, attributed to the war in West Asia. Speaker Shankar Chaudhary declined, stating a notice under Rule 116 on the same issue had been accepted on Monday and would be discussed on Wednesday. He prioritised the day's discussion on the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill. > “This is a well planned conspiracy and an attempt to send a wrong message to people,” Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi said. Sanghavi accused Congress of trying to misguide people through rumours and divert attention from the UCC Bill tabled that day. Science and Technology Minister Arjun Modhwadia alleged Congress wanted to avoid the UCC discussion by leaving the House. Senior Congress MLA Shailesh Parmar responded that questions would not arise if Parliamentary Affairs Minister Rushikesh Patel explained the situation. On the same day, after an eight-hour debate with 16 members speaking, the Assembly passed the Gujarat Uniform Civil Code Bill by majority vote. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, who tabled it invoking Sanatan values and Rigveda, described it as promoting equality in marriage, divorce, succession, adoption, and live-in relationships, with exemptions for Scheduled Tribes. He highlighted equal inheritance for daughters and protections for women. Congress objected, with MLA Imran Khedawala claiming it would distance Muslims from Shariat Law. Congress MLAs walked out before the vote. Gujarat becomes the second state after Uttarakhand to pass such a bill, based on a report by a committee headed by retired Justice Ranjana Desai.
