Porngate now rocks BJP in Gujarat?

After the Karnataka porngate, a similar scandal has hit the Bharatiya Janata Party in Gujarat assembly where two of its MLAs have come under the scanner for allegedly watching obscene pictures, prompting the speaker to seize their tablets and order a probe.

Yet to recover from the embarrassment in Karnataka where three of its ministers were caught allegedly viewing pornographic clips last month, BJP was in for more discomfiture in Gujarat where its two MLAs were found purportedly watching sleazy pictures in the Assembly by a journalist who complained about it to the speaker.

Radhanpur MLA Shankar Chaudhary and fellow BJP MLA from Shera Jetha Bharward were yesterday seen spending time on a tablet during the House proceedings and a journalist of a vernacular newspaper Janak Dave alleged they were watching obscene pictures of women.

"Chaudhary showed his tab to another MLA Bharwad. First they started by watching the pictures of Swami Vivekananda, then cartoons and then pictures of women," Dave alleged.

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"Some of us went to Speaker's (Ganpat Parmar) chamber and complained about it to his PA, who informed the Speaker and the viewing was stopped," Dave said.

The two MLAs have, however, rejected the accusation and dubbed it as a conspiracy to malign them and the party.

"I had not viewed any obscene clips in the House and allegation like this cannot be tolerated. I have never in my life seen such clips," Chaudhary told the House which descended into chaos over the incident with the Opposition going after the BJP MLAs.

"I am willing to deposit my I-pad/tablet before you (speaker) for investigation. If I have done any wrong then I would quit politics," Chaudhary said.

Bharwad was quick to dismiss the allegation as a "conspiracy" aimed at giving a bad name to them and the party.

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Speaker Ganpat Vasava ordered a probe by the Privileges Committee into the unsavoury episode after asking the assembly secretary to confiscate Chaudhary's tablet for forensic test.

The Congress took a swipe at the BJP, saying it exposes the true face of the party which swears in the name of Indian culture.

"BJP MLAs were found watching indecent pictures in the Gujarat assembly. It seems the opposition party has not learnt any lessons from a similar episode in Karnataka. Had tough steps been taken in Karnataka, this would not have been repeated in Gujarat.

"We can only pray to God that such a thing is now not repeated in any third BJP-ruled state," party spokesperson Rashid Alvi told media persons.

He said the incident has "exposed the true face of the BJP", which keeps "harping" about Indian culture.