Ram Prasad Sarmah's token protest was, cut short by the police, which made him dismount the rented horse near Rail Bhawan.
New Delhi:
To register his protest against the Delhi government's odd-even rules for cars, BJP lawmaker Ram Prasad Sarmah today chose to ride a horse to Parliament.
The Tezpur Lok Sabha MP's token protest was, however, cut short by the police, which made him dismount the rented horse near Rail Bhawan and escorted him on foot to Parliament building, a kilometre away.
Mr Sarmah, who rode the horse from his North Avenue residence, attracted the attention of passers-by. As he was stopped by the police near Rail Bhawan, traffic came to a halt.
The lawmaker said he had chosen the horse to commute to Parliament House as he owned an even-numbered car which was not allowed on the odd date.
"It is my way of protesting the odd-even rule implemented by Arvind Kejriwal government in Delhi which is causing problems to everyone," he said.
Mr Sarmah alleged the scheme has led to "harassment" of people as taxi and auto-rickshaw drivers were overcharging.
"A large number of people from different states visit Delhi for various reasons. They cannot enter the city if their vehicles violate the odd-even rule. Does the government expect them to bring two cars while coming to Delhi," he said.
Several parliamentarians have ignored the rules, which, for a fortnight ending on Saturday, ban private cars on alternate days, based on whether their license plates end in odd or even numbers.
Many lawmakers say the inconvenience must not apply to them because it could keep them from "discharging duties"; some said they cannot be expected to use taxis because those are not allowed into the Parliament complex for security reasons.
The Tezpur Lok Sabha MP's token protest was, however, cut short by the police, which made him dismount the rented horse near Rail Bhawan and escorted him on foot to Parliament building, a kilometre away.
Mr Sarmah, who rode the horse from his North Avenue residence, attracted the attention of passers-by. As he was stopped by the police near Rail Bhawan, traffic came to a halt.
The lawmaker said he had chosen the horse to commute to Parliament House as he owned an even-numbered car which was not allowed on the odd date.
"It is my way of protesting the odd-even rule implemented by Arvind Kejriwal government in Delhi which is causing problems to everyone," he said.
Mr Sarmah alleged the scheme has led to "harassment" of people as taxi and auto-rickshaw drivers were overcharging.
"A large number of people from different states visit Delhi for various reasons. They cannot enter the city if their vehicles violate the odd-even rule. Does the government expect them to bring two cars while coming to Delhi," he said.
Several parliamentarians have ignored the rules, which, for a fortnight ending on Saturday, ban private cars on alternate days, based on whether their license plates end in odd or even numbers.
Many lawmakers say the inconvenience must not apply to them because it could keep them from "discharging duties"; some said they cannot be expected to use taxis because those are not allowed into the Parliament complex for security reasons.
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