Cong boycotts Minister Rajesh Munat in Assembly

     Raipur, March 04, 2011: Congress members today refused to ask questions to Urban Development Minister Rajesh Munat in Chhattisgarh assembly accusing him of using indecent languages inside the house.

     Friday is allotted to the departments of Munat, but when the Speaker Dharam Lal Kaushik asked Bholaram Sahu to ask question, he refused to ask questions.

     However, Leader of Opposition Ravindra Choubey said Minister Munat had used unparliamentary language yesterday, because of which all parliamentary works of the Minister would be boycotted by the Congress party.

     The Speaker reminded the opposition about his ruling yesterday and asked them to cooperate in running the house, but the opposition remained unmoved.

     Parliamentary Affairs Minister Brij Mohan Agrawal, himself had once faced such a situation in this house, said keeping in the high tradition of the house, the Congress members should participate in the question hour.

     The unmoved Congress members, instead of asking questions started raising slogans and amid uproar the house was adjourned at 11.24 hours and even after the house reassembled, the question hour passed off without picking up a single question.

     Minister Munat was, however, seen sitting calmly.

     During the question hour yesterday the opposition levelled several allegations and, led by Leader of Opposition Ravindra Choubey, raised slogans demanding cancellation of the sale of Rogda dam to a private company which was engaged in construction of a power plant on that area under Akaltara block of Janjgir-Champa district.

      During that period also one of the Congress members demanded the Chief Minister to come to the house and reply what happened to the Rogda dam, which was strongly objected by Minister Munat.

     After hearing Munat, Congress members went furious and alleged the minister had used indecent words and body gesture.

     Speaker Kaushik also in his ruling said the members should not use unparliamentary or disrespectful languages and be selective in choosing their words while putting their points.

     But the opposition bench remained adamant.