Minister Mantri Prasad Naithani seemed to have cut a sorry figure on the third day of the ongoing Budget session. As the House assembled and the question hour was taken up Naithani was found entering the House. Health Minister Surendra Singh Negi rose to answer the Opposition’s questionnaire. On settling himself, Naithani said he came late because of his engagement with some teachers. However, the Opposition MlAs said the Minister should not apologise for his late arrival though he knew full well that the first question was related to his ministry.
Things are that there was a secretary gallery, set up adjacent to treasury bench. And the officers sitting there are supposed to answer the queries in writing while the role of the Minister is to answer them verbally. The Minister was caught on the wrong side of the matter as he seemed to be unaware of the figures involving teacher/student ratio. He was found fumbling.