The Winter Session of the Assembly saw a fiery beginning on Tuesday when a Congress MlA levelled charges against the Government. Staging a protest outside the House, Barkagaon legislator Nirmala Devi first brushed aside a meeting call from Chief Minister Raghubar Das and later hurled the shocking allegation about receiving share from a banned leftwing outfit.
“Why should I meet himIJ What would he do when the Government itself is getting money from the TPC (Tritiya Prastuti Committee) operating at Amrapali mining areaIJ The entire Government is getting money from TPC and suppressing democratic voices. Can’t one hold agitations in a democracy,” went on the lady MlA first in front of the press and later continued while seating right in front of the House exit.
Several attempts from her own party men, including Irfan Ansari and Badal Patralekh turned futile in pacifying her. The members were trying to take her to meet the Chief Minister present at his chamber in the Assembly. Moreover, her singlehanded, high octane agitation stunned all present and continued for about 15 minutes presenting a matter of nosiness for all the members coming out of the House.
Nirmala Devi, the first time legislator and wife of ex-Congress MlA and Minister Yogendra Sao, has been raising the issue of her husband who has been booked under the Crime Control Act. Sao along with the MlA and villagers of Barkagaon and nearby had protested against upcoming power plant of the NTPC at Tandwa. later, the protestors turned violent and based on the report of the Hazaribagh district administration cases have been filed against the leaders and several others. Sao is still behind the bars.
“We have been implicated falsely in the case. NTPC is constructing poor quality of shelters under its relief and rehabilitation package for the displaced. People of the area staged a protest against it. It is the TPC which is extracting levy in crores of rupees and making that available even to the Government. Instead of taking any step against the TPC, the Government is terrifying us,” said she before complaining about uneasiness. Following that the medical team present at the Assembly took her for blood pressure measurement which was recorded a bit on the higher side.
Congress party has also picked up the issue and a dharna at Birsa Chowk was planned later in the day. Besides the party MlAs, host of the supporters of Nirmala Devi and residents coming from Barkagaon were expected to join the protest.
Moreover, the MlA claimed that district officials of Hazaribagh and Ranchi stopped them from coming to Ranchi at the behest of the Government. later, Irfan Ansasi heard saying that the party would raise the issue vociferously in the House on Wednesday.