Raipur: The Congress staged a walkout in the Chhattisgarh Assembly on Thursday, alleging that the BJP Government was ignoring elected representatives of Panchayati Raj institutions in development work under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan.

Raising the issue during question hour, Leader of the Opposition Mahendra Karma alleged that the Government had nominated committees at panchayat level to look after development initiatives.

``These committees are parallel to panchayat bodies,'' he said adding that giving such powers to nominated bodies was in fact against the very concept of Panchayati Raj. ``Can the Government ignore elected representatives and entrust work to a few nominated persons?'' he asked.

However, School Education Minister Megharam Sahu said each committee was headed by a person recognised as a social worker in the respective area. Moreover, elected representatives from the panchayat concerned were also included as committee members.

Dissatisfied with the Minister's reply, the Congress staged the walkout.

Another walkout

The Congress also staged a walkout demanding Home Minister Ram Vichar Netam's resignation over rising illicit liquor sale in the State.

Through a call attention motion, Congress members raised the issue of large- scale illicit liquor sale in the State and claimed ``because of that the law and order situation has collapsed''.

Mentioning about a violent clash between the workers of two liquor lobbies on December 27 last, several Congress members said the incident of firing of 70 rounds of bullets took place close to the residence of the Chief Justice of the State High Court, District Collector and the residence of former State Assembly Speaker Rajendra Prasad Shukla at Bilaspur.

``It is a serious matter and the Government should immediately cancel the two liquor shops opened in that spot as in that firing incident one person sustained bullet injury also,'' Dharamjeet Singh of the Congress said.

When the Home Minister denied that any one was injured in that incident, Mr. Singh said he would resign if his statement would be found wrong and demanded abolition of the liquor shop from that spot.

In his reply, the Excise Minister, who represents Bilaspur, refused to close down any shops.

Demand for hospitals

Former Congress minister Ravindra Choubey said he had written to the State Government requesting for opening of three hospital in Saja, but instead the Excise Minister Amar Agrawal had sanctioned three new liquor shops. Finally, not satisfied with the reply of the Home Minister, Congress members staged a walkout.UNI/ PTI

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