The Hindu : New Delhi News : Lack of quorum saves the day for Congress

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Mar 04, 2006

New Delhi

New Delhi

Lack of quorum saves the day for Congress

Staff Reporter

Avoid opposing a resolution seeking exemption of rural areas from being declared urban

NEW DELHI: The Delhi Government on Friday wriggled out of a tricky situation of having to oppose a private member's resolution moved by Nationalist Congress Party MLA Ramvir Singh Bidhuri seeking exemption of rural areas from being declared urban, payment of house tax and application of building bylaws when it forced the adjournment of the Delhi Assembly due to lack of quorum.

Mr. Bidhuri had moved the resolution that read: "This House resolves that rural status of the villages should not be altered and those declared as urbanised be restored in the category of villages and simultaneously be exempted from house tax and building by-laws." Accusing the Delhi Government of having stabbed the rural population in the back, Mr. Bidhuri said it was unfortunate that despite making tall promises to the rural folks, it was making life hell for them by making unnecessary alterations in the law. Mr. Bidhuri said a move had been set in motion by the Congress Government to revoke the 1963 notification of the Home Ministry exempting villages in Lal Dora and extended Lal Dora areas from application of building by-laws.

Warning that any such thing would not be tolerated, Mr. Bidhuri pleaded that the rural character of the villages should not be altered and any move to turn them into urbanised villages would be strongly opposed. Challenging the Congress Government to vote against the resolution, Mr. Bidhuri said any negative vote would expose the real face of the Congress Government and Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit. He also refuted the charge by Congress legislator Kiran Walia that the Mahapanchayat had very little attendance and said it was a common knowledge that thousands had gathered at Rajghat to protest and if there was no misgiving about it, the rural people were ready to remove it.

In between all this, Congress Chief Whip Ramakant Goswami was seen moving around whispering something into the ears of his party MLAs. Immediately after this, some of the loyalist MLAs started moving out leaving the House without a proper quorum.

When Urban Development Minister A.K. Walia rose to reply to Mr. Bidhuri's resolution, it was pointed out that the House lacked quorum following which the chair adjourned the House for the day saving the Congress party the blushes.

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