Team News Riveting
Raipur, July 22
The opposition members on Monday created uproar in the Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly on the issue of violence that erupted in Balodabazar that took place on June 10.
The week-long session of the Assembly started with a stormy note as the members of the Congress party, which is the main opposition party in the House, created pandemonium demanding discussion on the adjournment motion on the issue. The members of the opposition and treasury benches entered into a verbal clash during discussion on the acceptance of the motion.
Leader of Opposition Dr Charan Das Mahant said that the incident in which a portion of collectorate was set on fire besides a large number of vehicles, destroyed the faith and symbol of Chhattisgarh. There has been a conspiracy to destroy the harmony and brotherhood in the state. The peace of the state has been disturbed and an atmosphere of violence has been created, he added.
Former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said that arson was committed in the composite building of Balodabazar. The dispute started with the damage to the holy pillar of the Satnami community at Amar Gufa. An FIR was registered after the anger of the Satnami community. Three laborers from Bihar were arrested. The anger in the community escalated as it said that a person cannot alone damage the pillar just because he did not get wages. The community had demanded a CBI inquiry that was ignored, Baghel said.
Chhattisgarh Home Minister Vijay Sharma said in his statement that it was incorrect to say that no action was taken on the Amar Gufa incident. It is also wrong to say that officers were not present to receive the memorandum. Sharma said 40 police personnel were injured, 14 cases have been registered. After the statement, Speaker Dr Raman Singh rejected the adjournment motion.
The Congress members created ruckus demanding immediate discussion on the issue. Following chaos, the Speaker adjourned the House till 3 pm. When the House reassembled, the Congress members trooped into the well of the House raising slogans in protest. Under the rules, all the Congress MLAs were suspended. The party has a strength of 35 members in the House.
Under section 250 (1) of the rules of CLA’s procedure and conduct of business, during the sitting of the House, no member shall leave his seat to enter the well of the House. The membership of such a member who enters in the well of the House will be deemed suo motu suspended for a period as the Speaker might later decide.
The Speaker later adjourned the House for the day.
