State Assembly again witnessed uproar over the death of a five-year old girl due to her accidental fall into an open drain on Thursday. There was a face-off between Urban Development Minister CP Singh and former Chief Minister Hemant Soren in the House, on the issue of death of five-year-old girl in Hindpiri area on Wednesday.
The girl, Falak, a resident of Nala Road in Hindpiri area, was on her way to attend tuition class when she slipped and fell into the arterial drain on Wednesday afternoon. Her body was found three kilometers away from the site of the accident.
Congress MLA from Lohardaga, Sukhdeo Bhagat moving an adjournment motion on the issue demanded the Assembly Speaker to have a discussion on the issue. However, the Speaker rejected Bhagat’s demand for adjournment motion.
Supporting the adjournment motion moved by Bhagat, JMM executive president and Leader of Opposition in the House, Hemant Soren said, “The death of small girl is very serious issue. While on one hand the Urban Development Minister talks about urban planning and Smart City, the civic condition is State Capital is deteriorating day-by-day. The Capital is full of open drains inviting accidents.”
In support of Bhagat and Soren, the JMM and Congress legislators started shouting slogans against the State Government and Urban Development department. The JMM legislators also charged barb on Urban Development ministry of indulging in corrupt practices.
Replying to JMM allegations, CP Singh said, “The Leader of Opposition has heard the word of Smart City, but lacks knowledge about what is Smart City projects. The Leader of opposition has the habit of raising issue without having proper information and knowledge of the project.”
Reacting on barb charges made by Soren, Singh also dared the Leader of Opposition to prove with evidence if he or his ministry is involved in any type of corrupt practices. Singh said, “If the Leader of Opposition has any information about me or my department involved in commission in Urban Development projects he should come up with evidence.”
The Minister also challenged Soren of grabbing tribal land at various parts of State. He said, “We are much better than you (Soren), we have not sold sand mines to Mumbai based companies.”
The JMM legislators claimed that the ruling party has become arrogant after Lok Sabha election results and suppressing the voice of Opposition every times when they raise any issue concerning with public interest.
The war of words between Minister and Leader of Opposition continued till Assembly Speaker adjourned the House.
Outside the House, the Minister reacting on death of Falak said, “It is a serious issue. We will try to know the reason behind the death of the girl at the same time action will be initiated against guilty officials for their negligence in the case.” Meanwhile, despite ruckus created by Opposition in the House, four bills including amendments in the Baba Baidyanath Sanskrit University was passed in the house.
When the session resumed after lunch, Soren leveling allegation against Jharkhand Vidyut Nigam Limited MD Rahul Purwar said that the MD is delaying the payment of Rs 42 crore to Tata Projects Limited due as he needed commission in the payments. Soren claimed that Rahul Purwar is holding the post of JVNL for four years but due to patronage received by Government he is still untouched.