Making it clear that the special Assembly session that kick-started on Monday at Gairsain in Chamoli district would be stormy, the Opposition BJP stalled the proceedings, demanding an enquiry into the liquor CD scam that involves the former Secretary to Chief Minister Mohammad Shahid. Shahid had purportedly sought money from a liquor baron in lieu of providing him with liquor licence in contravention of the recently enforced Fl2 that handed over the task of distribution of liquor to public sector units. In view of the continuing pandemonium, the Speaker adjourned the House for half an hour at 11.15 am and later extended it till 12.22pm. The Question Hour scheduled between 11 am to 12.20 pm washed away sans debate on any of the listed questions.
As soon as the House assembled, the leader of the Opposition Ajay Bhatt said that the liquor scam that had dented the State Government’s image must be rightly probed through an inquiry. Waving a copy of the CD, he said they would not allow the Government to get away with it. However, when MlA Madan Kaushik intervened, saying that the House was about to pass condolence on the death of former President APJ Abdul Kalam, Bhatt fell in line and the condolence motion was read by the Speaker as per the understanding reached during business advisory committee (BAC) meeting.
later, as the Speaker asked MlA Pushkar Singh Dhami to raise his question by way of starting the Question Hour the Opposition MlAs turned vociferous, demanding inquiry into the CD scam. Bhatt said the matter being serious, there must be a debate on the issue under Section 310 of the House proceedings. The Speaker saying that the Question Hour also relates to the Opposition failed to soften Bhatt who insisted the CD issue was more important than the Question Hour, resulting in the House being adjourned till 11.45. Things remaining the same, the House was again adjourned till 12.20 pm.
As the House re-assembled at 12.20 pm Opposition remained adamant. The saffron MlAs even trooped into the well to pressure further the Treasury Bench, prompting the Speaker to ask Treasury Bench to complete things as planned for the day. Realising that the Speaker would not act on their demand, the Opposition MlAs squatted right on the well and started shouting at the top of their voices.
Amidst the shouting, the State Parliamentary Affairs Minister Indira Hridayesh hurried through the proceeding and the Secretary Assembly made several announcements.
Thereafter, the Speaker adjourned the house till 4 pm at 12.35 pm.