Continuing with their demand of CBI probe into alleged Food and Civil Supplies Department corruption issue, the Opposition Congress members sported black bands and carried symbolic diaries in the House as a mark of protest during the ongoing Budget session of Chhattisgarh legislative Assembly on Wednesday.
The protesting members raised slogans demanding discussion on the issue.
Pandemonium prevailed in the House as the members of either side got involved into arguments over the issue. Presiding Chair in the absence of Speaker Gaurishankar Agrawal, Devjibhai Patel eventually adjourned the House for 10 minutes. As soon as the question hour concluded, Congress members put black bands on their foreheads and flashed symbolic diaries in their hands.
leader of Opposition TS Singhdeo demanded in the House to hold a discussion on the issue. The Congress members shouted slogans for demanding a probe and arrest of the accused in the scam. Higher Education Minister Prem Prakash Pandey said that the allegations are baseless and the diary is fake.
He raised objection on the conduct of Congress members and said that flashing objects and wearing black bands without prior permission of the Chair is against the rule of conduct of the Assembly.
The Congress members continued raising slogans despite objections raised by the Treasury bench. Members of Congress and BJP argued with each other despite repeated appeals by the Chair Devjibhai Patel to take their seats.
Patel also said that the conduct of Congress members is not according to rules and traditions of the House. But the Congress members continued raising slogans forcing the Chair to adjourn the House for 10 minutes.
As soon as the House resembled, Congress members removed the bands and diaries. Congress member Satyanarayan Sharma said that the issue is serious and need to be discussed in the House. leader of Opposition TS Singhdeo said that the issue is being highlighted in media with facts and if the House avoids discussion on it, it will provide a message to people that the Government is deliberately hushing up the issue. All members should give their consent for discussion, he said. To this, the Chair said that he has not received any notice and will think over it.