Chhattisgarh Assembly witnessed uproar on the first day of its winter session which began on Monday with the opposition (Congress) demanding resignation of Speaker Gourishankar Agrawal for an alleged land encroachment by a trust managed by him and his family.
The Congress moved a no-confidence motion against the speaker in the morning and demanded immediate discussion on the motion after the question hour. The speaker, however, ruled out the discussion on no-confidence motion saying that the motion moved by opposition was being “considered”.
The Congress MLAs were not satisfied with the answer and jumped to the well of the house shouting slogans and demanding speaker’s resignation.
The speaker suspended 26 Congress MLAs, including state Congress chief Bhupesh Baghel and Leader of Opposition TS Singh Dev, for five minutes.
As the Congress MLAs refused to budge and continued shouting slogans, the speaker suspended 35 Congress MLAs including state Congress chief, the leader of opposition, Kota MLA Renu Jogi and Marwahi MLA Amit Jogi for the day.
“The opposition has not only insulted the speaker but the complete house,” said Cabinet Minister Prem Prakash Pande while reading out the “praise” showered on the Mr. Agrawal by the leader of opposition TS Singh Dev on being appointed the speaker of the house after assembly elections.
“All the constitutional posts are for the people of this country and not for those who are occupying it. If there are allegations over the behaviour of persons holding such post, should there be no inquiry against them?” asked Mr. Dev.
The house was adjourned for the day five minutes after the suspension of Congress MLAs.
Allegations against Speaker
Chhaganlal Govindram Agrawal Trust managed by Mr.Gourishankar Agrawal, the speaker of Chhattisgarh assembly, and his family has allegedly occupied 0.45 hectare of government land near Mahadev Ghat here.
According to the president of social organisation ‘Hamar Sangwari’ , Mr.Rakesh Choube, the trust of which Mr. Agrawal is the treasurer, has encroached over the government land and has built 19 shops and a ‘Satsang Bhavan’ (prayer house) on the government land in Mahadev Ghat.
Mr. Choube has also lodged a complaint against the trust with Chhattisgarh Lokayukta and has written to Chhattisgarh chief secretary demanding action against the trust.
Mr.Agrawal, who represents Kasdol assembly constituency in the Assembly has denied the allegations and the ruling Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) has also decided to back him.
But, the Congress has decided to corner the government over the issue which could snowball into a major embarrassment for the government.
