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Ruckus in M.P. Assembly

Staff Correspondent

Congress members seek Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan's resignation

BHOPAL: Amid noisy scenes the Madhya Pradesh Assembly was adjourned twice on Friday as Congress members cited the example of their party president Sonia Gandhi and demanded resignation of the State Chief Minister and several of his Cabinet colleagues saying that they were heading State-owned autonomous corporations and enjoying offices of profit.

The Assembly was later adjourned sine die after the Speaker, Ishwardas Rohani, had rushed through normal business listed for the day even as the Congress members continued to protest and raise slogans in the well of the House.

At the outset in the morning, the leader of the Opposition, Jamuna Devi, cited Ms. Gandhi's example and pressed for a discussion on the "office of profit" issue. The Congress members, who were visibly agitated, joined her in demanding a discussion. In the midst of noisy scenes, the Speaker adjourned House for 10 minutes. The Assembly was once again adjourned till 11-30 a.m. as the Congress members kept shouting slogans when the House reassembled.

When the House resumed for the third time, the Congress members again started raising slogans and rushed to the well of the House. The Speaker could restore some order by allowing the Opposition leader to restrict to `technicalities' while putting across her point on the "office of profit" issue. At this juncture when Congress MLA Arif Aqueel started saying something, there was resistance from two Ministers -- Narottam Mishra and Kailash Vijayvargiya.

Addressing the House, Ms. Devi said there was a Constitutional crisis as the State Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan, who is also a Member of Parliament, is heading a State-owned autonomous corporation. "Many State Ministers are also enjoying offices of profit like the Chief Minister," she said adding: "this is a serious matter." Ms. Devi was prevented by the Speaker from taking the names of Ministers. He said he was allowing the Leader of the Opposition to speak but was not allowing a discussion on the issue. Ms. Devi ended her speech by asking the Chief Minister and other Ministers holding dual posts to resign. She said that Ms. Gandhi had set an example. At this juncture all Congress MLAs were on their feet shouting slogans. They also rushed to the well of the House and continued protesting.

Meanwhile, the Speaker rushed through the business listed for the day and even got four Bills passed by voice vote before adjourning the House sine die.

Addressing media persons in the Assembly premises, Ms. Devi reiterated her demand for the Chief Minister's resignation. She also named ten of his Cabinet colleagues -- Himmat Kothari, Babulal Gaur, Gopal Bhargava, Yashodhara Raje Scindia, Jagdeesh Dewra, Tukoji Rao Pawar, Ramakant Tiwari, Rustam Singh, Vijay Shah and Chaudhary Chandrabhan Singh -- saying that as chairmen of autonomous State-owned corporations they too were holding offices of profit.

She also named three BJP MLAs -- Lakshman Singh Gaur (Vice-Chairman State Panch-J Committee), Lal Singh Arya and Shivraj Shah (both members of the State Panch-J Committee) and said even they were holding offices of profit.

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Ruckus in M.P. Assembly

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