The Opposition Congress members staged a walkout and raised slogans on Wednesday against the ruling BJP Government while demanding action against a senior IAS officer for his reported verbal spat with Congress member Bhupesh Baghel a day back in the Chhattisgarh Assembly premises.
Even as the House assembled for business, Congress member Bhupesh Baghel raised the issue of his argument with IAS officer G S Mishra while stating that the latter threatened him and tried to pressurize him not to raise the Pendravan lake issue in the House.
To this, Speaker Gaurishankar Agrawal advised the member to let the question hour be completed and then he would provide time for discussion on the issue.
Baghel did not agree to Speaker’s suggestion and the Opposition members resorted to sloganeering while demanding termination of the IAS officer’s services.
To this, the Speaker again stated that he will seek reply from the concerned officer as it concerned privilege right of a member of the House.
leader of Opposition T S Singhdeo told the Speaker that the incident has occurred in the premises under the latter's control.
He remarked : “ Is this the IAS traditionIJ Has he spoken to the member (Bhupesh Bahgel) after the incidentIJ He could have spoken to him outside the Assembly premises. He (officer) should have talked to the member telephonically. How are we to workIJ Who is running the StateIJ"
Singhdeo further remarked: "What is happening in the StateIJ He (officer) could have telephoned. The signal should have come from the officer’s side when we (members) are upset. The Cabinet is not saying. We can’t work with them."
Replying to the leader of Opposition, the Speaker stated : "We will protect your privilege. I will take a decision. Whether the officer will apologise or not, the Assembly can't do anything. There can be debate on the incident”.
To this, Congress member Bhupesh Baghel got up and remarked : "This is administrative terrorism."
The other Opposition members then got up and started raising slogans again.
The Speaker then remarked : "The privilege of all members is secure with the Speaker."
Revenue Minister Prem Prakash Pandey stated that on behalf of the Government he wants to assure the Opposition members that no officer will insult any House member.
“The Government is ready for talk.If the officer has done anything wrong, action will be taken against him”, he said.
To this Congress member Bhupesh Bahgel said none of the Cabinet members called him nor the Chief Secretary or the Additional Chief Secretary. This is a very ‘light’ assurance from the Minister.
To this, Pandey said that this is no 'light' assurance. Whatever has happened, the Speaker has to take a decision and the Government would abide by it.
Panchayat Minister Ajay Chandrakar got up and asked : "Should you ( Opposition members) raise the issue during question hourIJ"
To this , the annoyed Opposition members again started raising slogans and staged walkout.