The Opposition Congress on Tuesday created a ruckus in the Assembly demanding a debate on the “suicide” committed by a woman allegedly married to the son of State Public Works Department Minister Rampal Singh. The issue stalled the proceedings of the Assembly multiple times. Finally, the House was adjourned for the day.
As soon as the Question Hour started, Leader of the Opposition Ajay Singh said he had submitted an adjournment motion on a serious matter which needed to be debated upon.
Responding to his demand, Speaker Sitasharan Sharma said the matter could be taken up after Question Hour. This led to a heated exchange between the Treasury Benches and the Opposition.
Acknowledging that the matter was serious, State Home Minister Bhupendra Singh said the police are investigating the case and asked the Opposition to desist from blaming anybody before the probe is over.
The Congress MLAs demanded an immediate debate on the issue. State Legislative Affairs Minister Narottam Mishra said the Congress was raising the issue due to an “infighting” within the party. He questioned the Congress for “keeping quiet” on the issue of its MLA, Hemant Katare, who has been booked for raping a woman student. Amid the ruckus, the House was adjourned thrice.
Later, the Congress members walked out of the Assembly and the Speaker transacted the listed business in the absence of the Opposition members.
The Congress has alleged that the woman killed herself last Saturday as the Minister’s son, Girjesh Pratap Singh, was going to get married for the second time at the behest of his father, and was “pressurising her to return their marriage papers”.
The party has demanded that Mr. Girjesh Pratap be booked for abetment to suicide. It has also demanded the Minister’s resignation from the State Cabinet.
