Oppn stalls House over CM’s yatra, cancelling of questions
STORMY SESSION Congress was upset as 4,000 questions were shelved; assembly passes nine bills amid din JAIPUR:
The opposition Congress on Thursday stalled the house over chief minister Vasundhara Raje’s Rajasthan Gaurav Yatra and the government’s decision to shelve 4,000 questions on public interest from the proceedings.
As soon as the house assembled for the Question Hour, the Opposition leaders were on their feet protesting the suspension of the questions and demanded that the government give an account of the money spent on Gaurav Yatra.
The BJP countered the opposition, saying the government is willing to answer all questions. After 15 minutes, Speaker Kailash Meghwal intervened asking if the Opposition wanted the house to run. He said the Opposition’s objection was misplaced and there could be no debate on cancellation of questions.
He then said the proceedings would be expunged and adjourned the house till 12 noon.
Addressing the media, Dotasara said they wanted to know why 4,000 questions were cancelled. “During various assembly sessions, MLAs had asked questions regarding Resurgent Rajasthan and mining issues. But the government did not want to give answers about scams. It is not accountable to the people. Instead of being in the house, the chief minister is on her Gaurav Yatra,” he said.
Independent MLA from Fatehpur Nand Kishore Maharia said his listed question was dropped.
“It was a starred question and was listed at number 14 for today. But I got a communication from the Vidhan Sabha at 1.30 am that my question has been dropped. This is undemocratic. They don’t want to answer the people. The people will give them an answer in the elections.”
Maharia had asked how much money was spent and under what head for the prime minister’s beneficiary meet in Jaipur.
When the house reassembled, the speaker disallowed an adjournment motion moved by Dotasara on the chief minister’s Gaurav Yatra. The opposition members then trooped into the well of the house and shouted anti-government slogans.
Dotasara asked why the government was shying away from answering on the yatra. He said even the high court had ruled on the yatra but the government was not allowing a discussion on it.
The speaker then adjourned the house till 2 pm. Amid the din, nine bills were passed after which the house was adjourned till Friday morning.