Ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the main opposition in the State assembly Congress members on Friday sparred in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly over an unparlimentary comment against media on the issuance of advertisements to media prompting Speaker Sitasharan Sharma to adjourn the proceedings for 10 minutes.
During the Question Hour, Jitu Patwari of Congress alleged that a query related to the Public Relations Department has been amended to such an extent that its essence has been lost. An unparliamentary comment targeted at Parliamentary Affairs and Public Relations Minister Narottam Mishra and media by Patwari led to a spat between BJP and Congress members.
Patwari said that the regime had informed in response to his query on Thursday that Rs 18 crore was spent on the Narmada Seva Yatra. However, the reply to a query by another member on Friday revealed that Rs 21 crore was spent on publicity alone.
The Congress member alleged that the dispensation is distributing money to BJP workers in the name of media. Dr Sharma expunged several remarks describing them as unparliamentary from the proceedings. However, Mishra urged that the comments not be removed from proceedings. On the other hand, Patwari said that he has not made any comment concerning media.
Mishra, Revenue Minister Umashankar Gupta and Home Minister Bhupendra Singh also expressed objections. The ruling party members remained firm on their demand for an apology from by the Congress to media.
Amid the pandemonium, Sharma adjourned the proceedings of the House for 10 minutes.