An all-party meeting convened by Rajasthan Assembly Speaker Vasudev Devnani here on Thursday ahead of the monsoon session was marred by the absence of the principal opposition Congress.
While the Congress did not attend the meeting despite the consent by LoP Tika Ram Jully, the lone Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) member, former minister Subhash Garg was away on a foreign visit, government Chief Whip Jogeshwar Garg said after the meeting, adding that Manoj Kumar Nyangli (BSP/SHS) too did not attend the meeting.
Chief Whip Garg said that prior to finalising the schedule of the meeting, Speaker Devnani had consulted leaders of all parties, including the LoP. The speaker was tentatively planning to hold the meeting on August 29 (Friday).
However, LoP Jully conveyed that he was having some difficulty attending the meeting on Friday. For his convenience, Speaker Devnani postponed the meeting by a day, and the LoP agreed to Thursday, Garg said.”
“Today, LoP Jully conveyed that he was unable to attend the meeting as he was away in Bundi. He had also informed that the party Whip Rafeek Khan too was not in position to attend”, the Govt Chief Whip added.
“This is not a befitting approach on the part of the principal Opposition party, hence I do condemn it,” Garg said.
There seems to be an internal tussle between the LoP Jully and the Congress state president, Govind Singh Dotasra, causing such undesirable situations for the grand old party, he alleged.
The monsoon session of the assembly is scheduled to begin on September 1.