Agitated opposition members overturn officiating secretary’s table
PIONEEREDGE NEWS SERVICE | Bharadisain
The opposition members raised ruckus in the house on the first day of the Vidhan Sabha monsoon session on Tuesday. The opposition members marched to the well of the house many times and also overturned the table of the officiating secretary of Vidhan Sabha.
The Congress members demanded work adjournment under rule 310 on law and order situation in the State to express their anger on what they alleged large scale irregularities in the Panchayat polls and use of money and muscle power to influence the poll outcome. The Congress members expressed their intention outside the house even before the proceedings of the day started when they marched to the Assembly holding ‘Vote Chor Gaddi Chhod’ placards.
The leader of opposition Yashpal Arya alleged that democracy was murdered from day one in the Panchayat elections and the anti-social elements supported by the police influenced the outcome of the elections.
Inside the house, the Congress members became furious when despite repeated adjournments the speaker Ritu Khanduri didn’t heed to their demand and continued with the business on occasions. Led by the deputy leader of Congress legislature party, Bhuwan Kapdi the party members including Haldwani MLA Sumit Hridayesh, Haridwar Rural MLA Anupma Rawat, Jwalapur MLA Ravi Bahadur and Adesh Chauhan took active part in the protest. They demanded that the government should suspend the Nainital district magistrate and senior superintendent of police for their failure to ensure a free and fair Panchayat election in the district.
The Congress MLAs even overturned the table of the officiating secretary of Vidhan Sabha Hem Pant and threw paper missiles towards the chair. The speaker Khanduri reprimanded the Congress MLAs for their unruly behaviour and damage to the property of the Vidhan Sabha. The Congress members continued their protest even after the speaker adjourned the house for the day and claimed that they will continue their protest till Friday.
