MLA seeks Speaker’s protection against targeting of his Muslim identity in Gujarat Assembly

The lone Muslim MLA representing Ahmedabad’s Jamalpur constituency from the Congress party in the Gujarat Assembly, Imran Khedawala, who had earlier contested the repeated allegations by BJP MLAs linking encroachments to the Muslim community, flagged the BJP MLAs' insulting reference to his Muslim identity and sought the Speaker’s protection.

In response, Speaker Shankar Chaudhary advised all members to refrain from making personal references during Assembly proceedings.

The issue emerged during the Question Hour, and it gained attention when a starred question raised by Khedawala was taken up for discussion. He sought details regarding the proposed overbridge between Vishala Circle and Sarkhej Crossroads in Ahmedabad, and he highlighted that the road passed through the minority-dominated areas of Juhapura and Sarkhej, The Indian Express reported.

The government informed the House that the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways had approved the overbridge at a cost of Rs 1,295.39 crore, and it stated that the project was expected to be completed by 2027, subject to necessary approvals.

In a supplementary question, Khedawala inquired about the timeline for the commencement and completion of the project, and Minister of State Jagdish Vishwakarma responded that the project’s progress depended on multiple factors, including encroachments along the road, which he linked to Khedawala’s community while seeking his help in evacuating them.

The Minister identified the encroachers, terming them non-vegetarian food stalls, auto-rickshaws, garages, and religious structures linked to a specific community, while explaining various encroachments.

He further added that such encroachments covered approximately 6,000 square metres, and he asserted that it was the duty of the MLA to ensure that his community refrained from illegal encroachments.

Khedawala immediately protested against these remarks, and he stated that references to a particular community were repeatedly made. Congress MLA Shailesh Parmar also intervened, and he asserted that if such encroachments existed, it was the government’s responsibility to address them.

Vishwakarma then alleged that Khedawala’s office in Jamalpur had been demolished due to unauthorised construction, and he accused the Opposition of attempting to discredit the government whenever encroachments were removed. Khedawala rejected these allegations, and he offered to provide legal documentation to prove the legitimacy of his office.

After the Question Hour, Khedawala raised a Point of Order, and he addressed the Speaker to express his distress over the manner in which remarks about his community were made. He referred to a previous instance when BJP MLA Amit P Shah had, during discussions on budgetary demands of the Home Department on March 19, made comments linking members of his community to the 2003 killing of former BJP minister Haren Pandya.

Khedawala reiterated that he raised issues concerning society and Gujarat within constitutional limits, and he urged that such remarks should not be repeated in the House.