Speaker beg apology to end House impasse

     Raipur, March 11, 2011: Speaker of Chhattisgarh Assembly Dharam Lal Kaushik today beg apology to end impasse on not asking question to Housing and Environment Minister Rajesh Munat by the members from main opposition Congress.

     Since it was a question day for the Departments of Munat, the Speaker asked senior Congress MLA Nand Kumar Patel to ask question, but he reiterated the stand of the Congress legislatures not to ask question to Munat.

     Even after the request of Parliamentary Affairs Minister Brij Mohan Agrawal, the Congress member remained unmoved and Dharamjeet Singh said it was a Gandhian protest by their party members.

     Finally Speaker Kaushik said he had already given his ruling on the matter that neither the Minister Munat nor Nand Kumar Patel had used any unparliamentary language in the house.

     The Chhattisgarh Assembly had always set higher standard of parliamentary tradition and he was begging apology on behalf of the entire house, the Speaker said and appealed to the members from both sides to cooperate him in running the house.

      After hearing the Speaker, Leader of Opposition Ravindra Choubey urged Patel to end the matter and ask question to Munat.

     During the question hour on March 03, last 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 Congress member Nand Kumar Patel 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 had said the members should not use unparliamentary or disrespectful languages and be selective in choosing their words while putting their points.

     But the Congress remained adamant for a week and the impasse was ended today.