Why Madhya Pradesh Banned Protests, Slogans In State Assembly? All You Need To Know
BJP MLA and former Protem Speaker Rameshwar Sharma supported the directive, saying that the Assembly is meant for serious works and not for theatrics.
As the Madhya Pradesh Assembly prepares to convene on Monday, a fresh controversy has erupted over a new directive issued by Speaker Narendra Singh Tomar banning protests and slogans within the legislature complex.
The directive, issued under Standing Order 94(2), prohibits the use of placards, masks, props, gestures, and other symbolic forms of protest.
According to the Assembly Secretariat, the move aims to maintain decorum and facilitate uninterrupted proceedings.
However, the opposition Congress has strongly objected, calling the order 'authoritarian."
'This is a murder of democracy. The government is neither allowing the Assembly proceedings to be broadcast live, nor permitting protests, and now even banning slogan-shouting," Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar said in a post on X.
Why Such Ban In Assembly?
In recent sessions, Congress legislators have staged dramatic protests inside the House.
These included wearing black masks, displaying fake snakes and skeleton costumes, waving gold brick replicas, and chaining themselves — all aimed at highlighting issues such as corruption, unemployment, and debt.
A Bharat Adivasi Party (BAP) MLA also staged a fast in front of Mahatma Gandhi's statue within the complex in an earlier session.
Under the new rules, such forms of protest will no longer be allowed.
Assembly Principal Secretary AP Singh said a circular containing the standing instruction was issued last week. 'The intention is to maintain discipline and ensure meaningful debate in the House, without obstructing participation," he told news agency PTI.
Opposition Pushes Back
Leader of Opposition Singhar cited Article 194 of the Constitution, which guarantees members the freedom to speak and raise public concerns in the Assembly.
'Instead of promoting transparency through live telecast of proceedings, the Speaker, under government pressure, is now trying to silence legislators from raising people's issues," Singhar said.
Meanwhile, BJP MLA and former Protem Speaker Rameshwar Sharma supported the directive, stating that the Assembly is meant for serious legislative work.
'The House is not a theatre. There are designated places for protest — like Roshanpura or Dussehra grounds," Sharma said.
The issue is likely to dominate the early proceedings of the upcoming session.
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