Uproar in Chg Assembly over land purchase by minister’s kin

Raipur, Aug 2 (PTI) The Congress today created a ruckus in the Chhattisagrh Assembly on the issue of the purchase of a forest land by family members of a "powerful and senior minister", an apparent re

Raipur, Aug 2 (PTI) The Congress today created a ruckus in the Chhattisagrh Assembly on the issue of the purchase of a forest land by family members of a “powerful and senior minister”, an apparent reference to state Agriculture Minister Brijmohan Agrawal, and demanded his resignation.

As many as 33 MLAs of the main opposition party were suspended after they trooped into the Well of the House while raising slogans against the government.

However, their suspension was revoked later.

Due to the pandemonium, Speaker Gaurishankar Agrawal adjourned the proceedings on two occasions.

As soon as the House assembled for the listed business today, Congress legislator Kawasi Lakhma and his party members raised the issue and alleged that the family members of a powerful Minister have “wrongfully” purchased and encroached upon the government land in Mahasamund district.

Leader of Opposition T S Singhdeo said the matter is serious as three to four government departments are involved in the whole issue.

Congress members, including the state party chief Bhupesh Baghel, demanded immediate discussion on the issue by moving the Adjournment Motion notice.

However, Congress members did not name the agriculture minister in the House and kept on addressing him as a “powerful and senior minister”.

Rejecting the motion, Speaker Gaurishankar Agrawal said this is the time for Question Hour, and requested the opposition to ensure smoothing running of the proceedings.

However, the Congress MLAs continued their demand and started shouting slogans.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ajay Chandrakar stated that the question hour is more important and other issues can be taken up later on.

Revenue Minister Premprakash Pandey also raised his objection by stating that if allegations are leveled against any minister, its notice has to be given 24 hours before so as to allow the concerned minister to prepare for his reply, and urged the Speaker to give his ruling.

However, the opposition members kept on shouting slogans demanding resignation of the minister as well as Chief Minister Raman Singh.

The Congress MLAs then sat on dharna on the floor of the Well and kept on raising slogans for resignation of the minister.

Later when the suspension of Congress Legislators was revoked, they returned to the House and Singhdeo again urged the Speaker to take up the issue for discussion.

However, the Speaker rejected his demand.

The controversy pertains to the sale of a forest land near a Buddhist site in Mahasamund district to the wife of Agrawal in 2009 which is now used for constructing a resort.

Agrawal had dismissed any wrongdoing, saying the land was purchased from a farmer and everything was done according to rules.

This is published unedited from the PTI feed.