The winter session of Madhya Pradesh Assembly today started on a stormy note after Opposition Congress walked out of the House during the Question Hour alleging that sub standard manure supply resulted in increasing farmer woes across the state.
The treasury and Opposition also locked horns over a co-operative bank scam before the House was adjourned for the day after transacting listed business at noon.
Earlier, when the House assembled, the members mourned the deaths of their former colleagues Awdhesh Pratap Singh, Ganguram Baghel besides VHP senior leader Ashok Singhal and observed a two-minute silence in their memory. Later as a mark of respect, the House was adjourned for 10 minutes.
When the House re-assembled for the Question Hour, Congress Shailendra Patel raised the issue of sub-standard fertilizers and sought reply on the action taken against the companies supplying it.
Agriculture Minister Gaurishanker Bisen in his reply touched upon the issue. Dissatisfied with his answer the treasury benches and Opposition traded charges. The Congress members walked out of the House in protest.
After a while, the Congress members returned and Deputy Leader of Opposition Bala Bachchan demanded a CBI probe into the co-operative bank scam of Rewa district saying that rampant corruption was prevailing in banking sector across the state.
Panchayat Minister Gopal Bhargava said that people involved in the co-operative bank irregularities in Rewa had been arrested and are being prosecuted.
Besides, he said that more than Rs 12 crore has been recovered from the accused out of more than Rs 16 crore which was pocketed unlawfully.
Bhargava said the Opposition's CBI demand doesn't hold any water given that he and Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had themselves sought action in the scam when it came to their knowledge.
Congress members Ramniwas Rawat, Sunderlal Tiwari, Ajay Singh and other backed for a CBI probe into the scam.
Ministers Gaurishanker Shejwar and Jayant Mallaiya came to the rescue of Bhargava, who struggled in the midst of Opposition's barbs.
Shejwar and Mallaiya maintained that the Opposition must hear Bhargava's reply and shun leveling baseless allegations.
After the Question Hour and Zero Hour, the Assembly transacted the listed business of the day and later Speaker Sitasaran Sharma adjourned the House till tomorrow.
