Bhopal: The main opposition in State Assembly, Congress on Wednesday moved a no-confidence motion against Speaker Sitasharan Sharma over the refusal to hold a discussion on the alleged suicide of state’s Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Rampal Singh’s daughter-in-law. The Opposition alleged that the house is being run in a biased manner. Later, the Budget session of the Assembly was adjourned sine die on Wednesday, a week ahead of its scheduled culmination.
Earlier in the day, a ruckus continued when the House reassembled and intensified after a heated argument took place between Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders over an adjournment motion on the same issue. The speaker had to adjourn the House for the second time till 12 noon.
On Tuesday, the Congress MLAs had demanded action against the minister’s son, Girijesh Singh. Rampal Singh’s daughter-in-law Preeti Raghuwanshi committed suicide in her house in the Raisen district a few days ago.
As soon as Question Hour started, Congress MLAs Arif Aqueel and Ram Niwas Rawat said Leader of Opposition Ajay Singh had submitted an adjournment motion on the issue, which they said is a serious matter and should be debated in House.
Responding to the demand, the speaker said the matter could be taken up after Question Hour. However, the Congress insisted that the debate be taken up immediately, triggering a war of words between treasury benches and the opposition. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Narottam Mishra said the Opposition seemed bent on stalling the proceedings of the House.
Meanwhile, several members of the Congress trooped into the Well of the House. Amid din, the Chair adjourned the proceedings for ten minutes.
After House reassembled, Congress MLAs raised the issue again and said the government was trying to shield the PWD minister in the matter. However, BJP members contested their claim, leading to a chaos. As the uproar continued unabated, the Assembly was adjourned again till 12 noon.
The House could hardly transact any business after reassembling when it was adjourned again till 1 PM, as Congress MLAs kept on demanding a debate. As the situation didn’t improve even after the proceedings began again, the Speaker adjourned the proceedings till 2 PM.
Even after the House met again, Congress members continued to raise slogans on the issue and entered the Well of the House. Amid the ruckus, the speaker transacted the listed business including the passage of Finance Bill 2018 without any discussion before adjourning the House sine die.