As soon as the Zero Hour began, senior Congress member Ramniwas Rawat demanded that an adjournment motion for a debate on malnourished children should be taken up. He pointed out that Congress had been demanding a debate on the issue for the last two days.
Claiming that malnutrition was claiming the lives of 80 children in the state everyday, Rawat said as the winter session of the assembly is coming to an end today, the issue of "utmost importance" should be taken up for discussion.
Replying to the Speaker's statement, Rawat said, "You are alleging that I did not come to your chamber yesterday. I allege that you do not want a debate on the deaths of malnourished children."
However, the Speaker asked him not to level "baseless" allegations as it was against the decorum.
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"I do not level allegations and I do not intend to do so," Rawat responded.
State Assembly Affairs Minister Narottam Mishra intervened saying the Opposition always disrupted the proceedings of the House.
The minister said when Rawat sought listing the issue for the debate, senior Congress member Mahendra Singh Kalukheda had stood up and told the House that the issue could be taken up in the next session.
Raising the point of order, the minister urged the
Speaker to give a ruling on the "unruly behaviour" of the opposition.
However, Rawat continued to press for an adjournment motion on the issue. He was joined by the acting Leader of the Opposition Bala Bachchan.
Rawat alleged that the Chair was doing the work of the government. Thereafter, the Congress members walked out of the House.
Outside the House, Rawat claimed, "10,000 children below six years have died in the state between July and October this year, which accounts for 80 kids deaths per day."
Bachchan said the government is shying off from the debate as it wants to avoid criticism. "We want the government to save the children," he added.