The State legislative Assembly saw more disruptions than business on the fourth consecutive day as the Opposition continued its protest demanding removal of Chief Secretary Rajbala Verma, DGP DK Pandey and ADG Anurag Gupta in different cases of corruption. The House, however, passed the Third Supplementary Budget of Rs 1738.70 crore amid ruckus created by the Opposition party leaders.
The session began with protests in the Assembly on Saturday when the Opposition party leaders from JMM, JVM and Congress came to the well and reiterated their demands for removal of CS, DGP and the ADG. Speaker Dinesh Oraon annulled the adjournment motion brought by the Opposition twice. But, leader of Opposition Hemant Soren and JVM’s Pradeep Yadav continued attacking the government. When efforts to pacify the Opposition proved futile, the Speaker adjourned the proceedings till 12:45 PM.
The session again started at 12:45 but was again adjourned till 2 PM as Opposition MlAs came to the well and started raising slogans against the government. At 2 PM when the House reassembled JVM leader Pradeep Yadav said that the CS was laughing when CM Raghubar Das was giving his reply on the issue relating to her involvement in the fodder scam case.
“This is a mockery of the parliamentary system. Was she laughing at the Assembly or at the CMIJ This should be probed. While the government is trying to shield the officer it should be noted that according to section 4 and 73 of Treasury Rules she has done a big crime as the then DC of Chaibasa and thus she is liable to be booked under the stringent laws,” Yadav said while removing his shoes and taking them in hand. He raised the shoes to his head and indicated that they are best suited on the feet and should not be brought to the hands or the head.
Meanwhile, Opposition leader Hemant Soren said that the Speaker has taken the issue very lightly. “This matter should be brought to fore. Under what pressure the CM is taking such an issue so lightly and those who are liable to be punished are mocking at the House,” said Hemant.
The House again witnessed ruckus as ruling party leaders flayed Opposition’s protest and leaders from Opposition came into the well raising slogans. The Speaker adjourned the House till 3 PM.
The logjam continued even after but finally at 3 PM the treasury bench went ahead with House proceedings as the Speaker initiated the process of voting for the Third Supplementary Budget. The Speaker continued voting process as Opposition party leaders, including Hemant Soren, Champai Soren, Kunal Sarangi, SB Samad, Irfan Khan, Pradeep Yadav and others raised slogans and hurled torn newspaper pieces near the reporting table.
As the house passed the supplementary budget, the Speaker adjourned the Budget session till January 22. later speaking about the Supplementary Budget, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Saryu Roy said that the total outlay of the budget is Rs 1738.70 crore out of which Rs 1546.94 crore is the total receipt from the Centre and other State scheme funds that were no utilised yet. Therefore, the net burden on the State exchequer will be Rs 191.76 crore, he said, adding that this is one of the smallest third supplementary budgets of the recent times.
Roy said that the funds from the budget would be utilised in several schemes under Urban Development, Health Insurance, Police Modernisation, Drinking Water, School Education and other important works.