House stalled for third consecutive day

Ranchi, Sep 24 (UNI) The Opposition NDA stalled Jharkhand Assembly proceedings for the third day today demanding immediate reply from Chief Minister Shibu Sorenover an issue, even as the Speaker expressed concern over the impasse.

Not a single agenda could be taken up till the recess as acrimonious scene compelled Mr Alamgir Alam to adjourn the House twice.

The Opposition NDA raised the issue of one Sanjay Chaudhari detained by the Customs officials at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport before he was to board a flight to Dubai on September 17.

On screening of his belongings, the authorities had recovered huge sums of unaccounted money, including foreign currency.

Chaudhari, a businessman from Jamshedpur, had claimed that he was ''close'' to former CM Madhu Koda, which the latter dismissed terming it as ''politically fabricated''.

Today as the House sat deputy Chief Minister Sudhir Mahto said since a PIL was filed in this connection the matter was subjudice and the government could not reply on it.

The Opposition, however, said the PIL was yet to be admitted by the court and the government was only trying to 'do away' with the matter in the House.

Mr Alam said Chief Minister Shibu Soren would come up with his statement tomorrow and requested the members to make smooth passage for House business.

Mr Saryu Rai(BJP) demanded stoppage of all business and discusion on the issue which the Speaker turned down.

All efforts to pacify the members went in vain as they went to the well and squatted on the floor shouting slogans and demanding a CBI inquiry into the incident.

The Speaker adjourned the House after thirty minites at 1130 a.m.

but as the House reassembled at 1200 the Opposition kept sitting on the floor deamnding immediate reply from the chief minister.

Left with no option, Mr Alam adjourned the House again till 1400 hours.

UNI PRS PL SY AS1745