The Hindu : National : Will question hour also be scrapped, asks BJP

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Thursday, Dec 22, 2005

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National

Will question hour also be scrapped, asks BJP

Special Correspondent

"Party leaders do not need MPLADS as much as poor MPs"

NEW DELHI: Ahead of Speaker Somnath Chatterjee's dinner meeting with party leaders on the MP Local Area Development Scheme on Wednesday, a BJP member made a plea in the Lok Sabha against scrapping the programme.

Raising the issue after question hour, Kharabela Swain said the MPLADS should not be done away with just because some members allegedly misused it. "By that logic, question hour will have to be scrapped because of the sting operation showing some members taking money to ask questions in the House," he said amid a chorus of support.

No decision should be taken on the scheme without consulting all members. "Party leaders do not need it as much as poor MPs like us. Without such a scheme, we will not be able to sink even a tubewell in our constituency," Mr. Swain said.

Stating that he was hosting the dinner meeting at the behest of some party leaders, whose identity he refused to disclose, the Speaker clarified his position.

"From the very introduction of the scheme, I have been saying in my personal capacity that the MPLADS will interfere with district planning." But there was no attempt by the Chair to scrap the scheme.

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