Opposition disrupts Raj Assembly over dist committee issue

Jaipur, Mar 26 (UNI) The issue of appointments of politicians other than MLAs and ministers, as district incharge to head district level administrative committees again rocked the Rajasthan Assembly today with the Opposition disrupting the proceedings and forcing the chair to adjourn the house.

As soon as Speaker Sumitra Singh took up the Question Hour business, Sanyam Lodha (Congress) was on his feet urging her to settle the issue first. The Opposition had raised it yesterday also.

Mr Lodha supported by several other Opposition members, including Leader of the Opposition Hemaram Chaudhary and senior member C P Joshi, said this was an issue related to the constitutional provisions and sanctity of the oath administered to the ministers by the state Governor under Article 164 of the constitution.

Meanwhile, members from the treasury benches objected the Opposition's bid obstruct the Question Hour.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Rajendra Singh Rathore urged the Speaker to ensure smooth business during the Question Hour.

However, Opposition members started raising slogans against the state government, and gathered around the seat of the Leader of Opposition.

This continued for some times and in the meantime amid din Education Minister Kali Charan Saraf and Forest Minister Pratap Singh Singhvi read out answers to starred questions.

Later, the Speaker adjourned the house till 1200 hrs.

At 1200 hrs, when the House met again, the opposition members continued to protest and the Speaker had to adjourn it again till 1300 hrs.

After the second adjournment, the Speaker held Chamber parleys with the Opposition and the ruling BJP to resolve the deadlock.

She also announced that the issue would be referred to the Advocate General for his opinion and he would submit his report by a week. The issue would be solved in the lights of AG's report, she said.

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