The State Assembly on Friday witnessed a walkout by the principal Opposition Congress that was adamant over action against forest officials who had threatened a journalist.
Through the medium of a calling attention notice, Kamleshwar Patel of Congress raised the issue of unbridled graft in Bahri and other forest ranges of Sidhi district and labourers not receiving remuneration.
In his reply, Forests Minster Gaurishankar Shejwar assured the House that an inquiry would be conducted by the Chief Conservator of Forests, Rewa. Posing a supplementary, Patel demanded a high-level probe into the entrapment of a regional mediaperson in a false case by forest officials. However, the Minister declined stating that the issue was not part of the notice therefore the supplementary would not be entertained.
At that juncture, Deputy Speaker Rajendra Kumar Singh intervened and asked Shejwar whether he would order an investigation if the Member submitted an application in writing.
Deputy leader of the Opposition Bala Bachchan who was holding the fort owing to absence of leader of the Opposition Satyadev Katare and other Congress members also demanded an inquiry into the scribe’s case.
The Minister concurred to look into the matter but in the same breath said his words ought not to be construed as an assurance made by the government in the Assembly.
However, dissatisfied with the Ministers response, the Congress members led by Bachchan staged the walkout and shouted slogans against Shejwar.
Earlier, Forest Minister Gaurishankar Shejwar took objection to a query raised by Congress member Sukhendra Singh and alleged that the member is himself not serious about the matter.
During the Question Hour, the Congress member said the response to his query provided an impression that electricity-related work in his assembly constituency has been completed. He urged Scheduled Caste Welfare Minister Gyan Singh to send a delegation for inquiring into the works in his or his representative's presence.
Shejwar took objection to the member's demand for inquiry in his representative's presence. It indicated that he did not take the matter seriously himself. Taken aback by the Minister's charge, the member said he was totally serious about the matter and he would remain present during the inquiry.