BJP MLA threatens to quit, backs out after meeting in Speaker’s chamber
BHOPAL : The House on Tuesday witnessed commotion on the issue of illegal mining. BJP MLA RD Prajapati, during Question Hour, alleged that the mining mafia was dominating in Chhattarpur district and claimed that thousands of trucks laden with illegally-mined minerals are leaving the district every day.. He said mining mafia also resorts to firing which has claimed two lives. Prajapati demanded to suspend district mining officer and get a probe done.
Mining minister Rajendra Shukla, assured of getting the matter probed and taking action against the guilty but Prajapati was adamant on his demand of suspension of mining officer. He threatened to resign if action on mining officer is not taken. Prajapati also asked to Speaker to either suspend the officer or suspend him. Prajapati’s demand for suspension was seconded by ruling party members and opposition members. Congress MLA Ajay Singh said the condition of MLAs can be assessed by the fact that no attention is not paid to ruling party MLA.
When Shukla did not announce suspension of the officer, minister of state (MoS) Lalita Yadav and other MLAs gheraoed Shukla in the House. They mounted pressure on Shukla to accept Prajapati’s demand. Assembly speaker, seeing MLAs doing gherao of minister’s seat, adjourned the House for half-an-hour. Legislative affairs minister Narottam Mishra had to intervene when the BJP MLAs did not end their gherao. During adjournment of House proceedings and in the room of speaker Sitasharan Sharma, it was decided to remove mining officer. When the House proceedings resumed, Prajapati announced that the minister has fulfilled his demand and he is satisfied. On this Congress MLA resorted to commotion and they alleged that the MLA had been pressurised. Acting leader of opposition Bala Bachchan said minister should reply in the House as the question was raised in the House. There was ruckus in the House over Congress demand and the speaker had tough time in pacifying MLAs of both sides.
Ajay Singh confers with CM; speculations begin
BHOPAL : Former leader of opposition in state Assembly, Ajay Singh, who generally does not go eve near the bench of ruling party members, had a long meeting with chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday in the House.
The relations between Singh and Chouhan are strained for long time over Singh making remarks on Chouhan’s wife Sadhna Singh. Chouhan couple had also filed a defamation suit against Singh. Charges in the said suit were framed in district court on Monday against Singh. Singh and Chouhan had lighter moments together for long time in the House and it is considered that their meeting was culmination of some sort of compromise between them.
Bhargava remark on Simhastha purchases irks Congress
BHOPAL : A remark made by Panchayats and rural development minister Gopal Bhargava in connection with purchases made for Simhastha led to commotion in the House on Tuesday. The occasion was debate on call attention motion on illegal mining. Bhargava had made a remark against Congress MLAs, which was finally expunged by speaker Sitasharan Sharma. Earlier, MLA Sunderlal Tiwari had raised the issue of purchases made during Simhastha. Legislative affairs minister Narottam Mishra said purchases were not made at the rate which are being publicised. Congress members turned furious when Bhargava made the remark and they entered the House well and demanded that Bhargava should apologise.
