Rajasthan lawmaker suspended for foul language

Jaipur, April 17 (IANS) A Rajasthan legislator was Tuesday suspended for a year from the assembly for using foul language against a minister, officials said.

Hanuman Beniwal, who represents Khinsar assembly constituency in Nagaur district, was suspended by Deputy Speaker Ramnarayan Meena when two ministers in the state cabinet including Minister of State for Health Rajkumar Sharma staged a sit-in demanding action the legislator.

It was alleged that Beniwal had used abusive language against Sharma Monday. Beniwal and Sharma had come close to a fistfight Monday after a heated exchanged of words.

The arguments had started Monday when Beniwal allegedly made personal comments and allegations against the minister. When Sharma protested, Beniwal hurled abuses at him. The two left their seats and headed for each other, simultaneously making threats.

The assembly was disrupted over the issue by the ruling Congress party members several times since Tuesday morning.

After Beniwal's suspension, the opposition also staged a walk-out demanding suspension of Sharma also.

Elected on a Bharatiya Janata Party ticket, Beniwal was suspended in December 2011 from the party for publicly condemning former chief minister Vasundhra Raje and other senior party leaders.