Amidst charges and counter allegations of corruption between the ruling Samajwadi Party and main Opposition, Bahujan Samaj Party, during debate over power issue, the legislative Council was adjourned for half an hour on Wednesday.
The issue was raised by BJP members through adjournment notice during zero hour, who alleged that power system has collapsed in the state and undeclared rostering was being done.
Replying on behalf of the government, Minister of State for Power, Yasir Shah claimed that power situation has not collapsed and the government was making all possible efforts to improve supply. He also informed the House in detail about the agreement with Torrent company, supplying power in Agra and that line loss has been minimized
under the present regime. leader of the House, Ahmed Hassan, even tried to shift the blame over power crisis on Bharatiya Janta Party byalleging that Centre is not providing coal which affects power supplyin the State. Dissatisfied the reply, the BJP members walked out of the House.
Meanwhile, BSP members who supported power crisis issue alleged that poor consumers were being looted in Agra. This led to heated arguments between the Opposition and the treasury bench. The BSP members then came into the well and raised slogan against the government. Chairman Ganesh Shanker Pandey
requested the members to maintain order but when the noisy scene continued, he adjourned the House for 15 minutes which was later extended by another 15 minutes.
BSP members also raised the issue of security of former chief Mayawati, alleging that there were some vacant rooms in front of her residence at Mall Avenue which could be easily accessed by criminals to target her. BSP members raised the issue through an adjournment notice during Zero Hour in the state legislative Council. Few rooms have been constructed on the service road of a bridge at loreto Crossing and they have been lying vacant for a long time. BSP chief Mayawati has to pass in front these rooms constructed near her residence, they said. “A criminal could attack Mayawati anytime while hiding in these rooms,” leader of the Opposition Naseemuddin Siddiqui said, adding, that these rooms also block the route. Siddiqui and other BSP members demanded that these rooms be removed immediately. They claimed that BSP supremo’s security officer Vivek Chandra wrote a letter to Additional Director General of Police (Security) on April 3 on the issue and later to the home department and PWD as well, but nothing was done. Speaking on the issue, leader of the House Ahmad Hasan said Mayawati gets Z-plus security cover and the police too has been directed to ensure extensive security. Chairman Ganesh Shanker Pandey said if the leader of the House does not have information on the matter, he should collect it and inform the House on Thursday.