Opposition Congress and ruling BJP members locked themselves in heated discussion before ‘no confidence motion’ was moved by the Congress party against Chief Minister Raman Singh and his Cabinet in Chhattisgarh Assembly on Friday.The BJP members were demanding a ‘breach of privilege motion’ from Speaker Gaurishankar Agrawal while stating that a copy of the charge sheet submitted to the Chhattisgarh Assembly Secretariat for ‘no confidence motion’ was provided to the media by the Opposition prior to its presentation in the House against the Assembly rules.
However, leader of Opposition T S Singhdeo denied in the House that the charge sheet was made available to the media.Congress member Bhupesh Baghel spearheaded the Opposition attack while Agriculture Minister Brijmohan Agrawal strongly defended the State Government. Congress members also staged a walkout after accusations were levelled by BJP MlA Shivratan Sharma on the Congress party .
Immediately after the question hour, before the discussion over no confidence motion began, legislative Affairs Minister Ajay Chandrakar demanded discussion over ‘breach of privilege motion’ moved by the Treasury bench. He said that Congress party had released the charge sheet submitted for no confidence motion to the media.
Since the charge sheet is a classified document prior to discussion in the House and releasing it in media amounts to breach of privilege of House, Chandrakar said.After much debate over the issue from both sides, the Speaker reserved his decision over the motion and permitted beginning of discussion on no confidence motion.
BJP MlA Shiv Ratan Sharma then raised the issue of absence of two Congress legislators Jaisingh Agrawal and Ramdayal Uike from voting held for the post of Deputy Speaker on the previous day.He said that since Congress party had released whip for its MlAs, the absence of both MlAs without permission from the House should be taken into account and action should be taken against them for violation of whip. The issue was later dropped by the Speaker.
later on, BJP members raised the issue that charge sheet should be given to government at least 24 hours before discussion.The leader of Opposition TS Singhdeo then stated that State government was trying to avoid discussions.Reacting over the allegation Minister Brijmohan Agrawal said that government was ready for the discussion.