The Congress MlA walked out of the House on the first day of the Budget Session of the Gujarat Assembly in protest of the State Government’s ‘inaction’ on rising deaths due to swine flu in Gujarat. Earlier on Monday, during the speech of Governor OP Kohli, the Congress MlAs tried to attract attention by wearing mask and gifting masks to the Governor, Chief Minister, Council of Ministers and the BJP MlAs. Amid Congress MlAs’ ruckus, eventually, the Governor had to conclude his speech abruptly.
Opposition Congress also demanded for discussion on curbing the spread of swine flu. The Congress leaders also said that after transporting the affected patients in 108 ambulances, fumigation process is necessary and the State Government should pay attention on it to check the spread of the fatal disease. leader of Opposition in Gujarat Assembly, Shakersinh Vaghela claimed that questions pertaining to arrangements for masks in Government hospitals, number of beds for swine flu patients, stock vaccine and medicines for the disease were attended satisfactorily by Health Minister Nitin Patel. He blamed that Patel opted for political replies rather than giving proper answers to his party members’ queries.
According to Vaghela, in order to protest against the ‘inefficiency’ of the State Government in tackling swine flu, the Congress decided to stay away from the proceedings of the House on the first day. Meanwhile, in the absence of members of the Opposition party, three bills passed in the last session of Assembly and approved by the Governor were tabled in the House. The Bills are – Gujarat Public Construction Dispute and Redressal tribunal Bill, Provincial Small Cause Court Bill and Presidency Small Cause Bill.
Parmar nominated as deputy speaker
With Gujarat Assembly Speaker Ganapat Vasava suffering from swine flu and undergoing treatment in a hospital in Surat, election of Deputy Speaker has become extremely important to run a month-long Budget Session. Not following the tradition of giving the Deputy Speaker’s post to Opposition party, the ruling BJP has decided to file nomination of Gadhada MlA Atmaram Parmar as Deputy Speaker. The election for the post is slated on Wednesday. On the other hand the Congress party has filed the nomination of tribal MlA Chandrikaben Bariya. The first two days of the proceedings of the House was chaired by Anjar MlA Nimaben Acharya, who is on Speaker’s panel.
12 more die of swine flu, 230 new cases detected
As many as 12 more people died of swine flu and 230 new cases of H1N1 reported on Monday in Gujarat. With addition of new cases of swine flu, total cases in the state have gone up to 3337 and number of death up to 219. According to the State Government, of the total registered cases, 1945 people have been cured. Meanwhile, Surat based premiere educational institute Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Institute of Technology (SVNIT) has declared vacation of 15 days following five of its students found H1N1 positive. Nearly 3,000 students are studying in the institute, majority are from outside Gujarat and residing in hostel.