Uproar in Assembly after Congress seeks Speaker's resignation

Chhattisgarh Assembly's monsoon session began on a stormy note here today, after Opposition Congress members were suspended for trooping into the well of the House and demanding resignation of Speaker Gaurishankar Agrawal in connection with an alleged land encroachment issue.
Speaking to reporters outside the Assembly, Opposition leader T S Singhdeo said that a trust managed by Gaurishankar Agrawal and his family had allegedly encroached upon government land near Mahadev Ghat on the outskirts of Raipur and also constructed temple as well as shops on it.
District authorities slapped a fine on the trust and directed confiscation of the property.

The Congress demanded the Speaker's resignation in this connection, Singhdeo said.
Uproar in the Assembly began soon after question hour, when the main Opposition Congress sought discussion on a notice on the resolution to remove the Speaker of the House.
Raising the issue, Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) Chief Bhupesh Baghel said that under Rule 145(1) of Assembly proceedings, a notice had been given to the Assembly secretary on a resolution to remove the Speaker.

Meanwhile, Higher Education Minister Prem Prakash Pandey said that Congress members had levelled allegations against Speaker Gaurishankar Agrawal, though members of both the ruling BJP and the Congress Opposition had unanimously elected him as Speaker of the House, after last year's Assembly election.

Soon after Congress legislators raised slogans and moved into the well of the House, they were suspended under the Assembly rule which provides for automatic suspension of members who try to disrupt proceedings.
However, Speaker Agrawal immediately revoked their suspension and adjourned the House for five minutes, but Opposition members continued to raise their demands after the House resumed.