• Source:JND
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Madhya Pradesh Assembly Speaker Narendra Singh Tomar has banned all protests and sloganeering by legislators inside the Assembly premises ahead of the monsoon session starting July 28. Issued under Rule 94(2), the order prohibits demonstrations or slogans, sparking opposition criticism over curbing democratic rights and dissent within the House.

The Congress party, which had planned to highlight various public issues such as unemployment, poor law and order, deteriorating road conditions, and corruption during the session, has strongly criticized the ban. As a result, Congress legislators will no longer be able to protest or express dissent vocally inside the Assembly.

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Reacting to the order, Opposition Leader Umang Singhar accused the Speaker of acting under pressure from the ruling government. The directive also forbids symbolic acts like wearing masks, using props, displaying placards, blowing horns, or making disruptive gestures within the Assembly complex, as per Standing Order 94(2).

“Today, under pressure from the government, the Speaker has stopped legislators from protesting and raising the voice of the people inside the Assembly premises. In fact, the opposition has been continuously demanding that Assembly proceedings be made live. Instead of allowing transparency, the Speaker, under government pressure, is now preventing MLAs from even raising public issues,” said Singhar.

He also emphasised the constitutional rights of elected representatives. “It is important to remember that Article 194 of the Constitution grants special powers to legislators, which allow them to raise public interest issues in the House, express their views, and demand answers from the government. The government, which often presents false and misleading data in the Assembly, is now trying to avoid being exposed by pressuring the Speaker into issuing such orders and regulations. This is a direct attack on democracy, " Singhar added.

Why Was The Step Taken? 

In recent sessions, Congress transformed the Assembly into a stage for high-impact protests. Members donned black masks to represent government secrecy, brandished fake snakes to highlight unemployment, wore skeleton costumes to condemn corruption, and waved gold-painted bricks as a jab at alleged scams — all of which made for eye-catching images that often grabbed media attention.

One MLA from the BAP Party even held a solo hunger strike at the foot of Gandhi’s statue, channeling the spirit of the Mahatma. However, a new directive has now put an end to such demonstrations.

Assembly principal secretary A.P. Singh told PTI that a circular reiterating standing instructions was issued about a week ago. The aim, he said, is to preserve decorum in the House and ensure that debates remain constructive and that members can participate without disruption.

Leader of Opposition Singhar, meanwhile, cited Article 194 of the Constitution, which grants state legislators the right to freely express public concerns, speak openly in the Assembly, and hold the government accountable.

"Instead of encouraging transparency, like broadcasting Assembly proceedings live, the Speaker, under the government's pressure, is now preventing legislators from even raising public issues," said Singhar.

"Article 194 of the Constitution grants special powers to legislators, allowing them to raise matters of public interest in the House, express their views, and seek answers from the government," he added.

Hemant Katare, Deputy Leader of the Opposition, went a step further, labeling the directive as “authoritarian” and accusing it of being a calculated move to protect the BJP-led government from public scrutiny.

"The government presents fabricated data in the Assembly. These new rules are a way to avoid being exposed," Katare said.

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BJP MLA and former Protem Speaker Rameshwar Sharma defended the directive, asserting that the Assembly is a place for serious constitutional debate, not for "wrestling and chaos."

He argued that protests should take place at venues like Roshanpura or the Dussehra grounds, not within the legislative chamber. “The House is not a theatre,” he said.

(With PTI Inputs)