Assembly witnesses uproar over Appropriation Bill

THE OPPOSITION MEMBERS DEMANDED FOR DIVISION OF VOTES TO PASS THE BILL, AS, THEY CLAIMED, THE RULING PARTY DID NOT HAVE ADEQUATE NUMBER IN THE HOUSE

JAIPUR: The state assembly on Wednesday witnessed uproar over the Rajasthan Appropriation Bill, 2020, which aims to authorise payment from the state’s consolidated fund for services in 2019-20.

The uproar was followed by a demand by the Opposition members for division of votes (physically counting of the members) to pass the bill, as, they claimed, the ruling party did not have adequate number of members in the house.

The incident took place during the zero hour when the assembly chairperson, Rajenda Pareek called for voice vote to pass the bill. Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Rajendra Rathore objected to the call stating that the ruling party did not have numbers to pass the bill. He demanded for division of votes after closing the house gates, which was rejected by Pareek. After this, the opposition members staged a walkout raising anti-government slogans.

Looking into the sudden demand of the opposition, the ruling party MLAS rushed to the house and parliamentary affair minister Shanti Dhariwal sought counting of member. Amid the uproar, the bill was passed.

In another episode, under the call attention motion, Congress MLA from Deoli-uniara, Harish Meena raised question over the death of Harbhajan Meena, who was allegedly thrashed by local police in Tonk district in 2019.

Instead of the CID-CB into the incident, Meena demanded a probe by the additional director general of police (civil rights).

Dhariwal replied that a case was registered in the matter on May 4, 2019; a probe was conducted, statements of 46 witnesses was recorded, six policemen were suspended and a report was submitted in December 2019, which is being analyzed.

Commenting on the reply, Meena said the incident is condemnable. “A person is allegedly killed by police and to hide the act, the body was later taken to hospital for post-mortem, where he was declared brought dead,” he alleged.

“A week after the incident case was registered. Is this sensitivity? I myself sat on dharna to get FIR lodged. The postmortem was not conducted by a medical board as demanded and the deputy chief minister had to come in whose presence it happened. Now, shall I bring the chief minister to get the investigation?” Meena asked.

“In 12 hours, three boards were changed for post mortem to provide relief to the accused,” he added.

Countering the MLA’S claims, Dhariwal said the victim’s relatives reached police station on May 3 at 11.30 pm, the FIR was registered at 1pm on May 4. “Who went to register the FIR? You (Meena) sat on dharna, you should have gone, who was stopping to lodge FIR,” he said.

“Certainly, the postmortem mentions blunt object and, trauma, but the question is did he die in accident. If you want probe by ADG (civil rights), we are ready for this,” he said.

PLAN TO USE M-SAND IN GOVT PROJECTS Industry minister Parsadi Lal Meena informed the house that appropriate provisions regarding the use of manufactured sand (M-sand) in new construction works of government departments have been proposed in the Rajasthan M-sands policy, which is under consideration.

M-sand is produced by crushing rocks, quarry stones or larger aggregates pieces into sand sized particles.

Replying to a question raised by MLA Chandrakanta Meghwal during the question hour, the minister said, M-sand is being used as an alternative to river sand (bajri) in construction works after the Supreme Court’s order of placing ban on bajri mining without replenishment study and environmental clearances.

The Rajasthan M-sand policy is under consideration, proposing amendments in the Rajasthan Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 2017, to promote M-sand industries in the state.

When the MLA asked if the government is considering relaxation on capital and interest in setting up M-sand industries, Meena said the Rajasthan Investment Promotion Policy2019 has been implemented by the state government, which includes the M-sand sector in the list of manufacturing thrust sectors.