CVC issue forces adjournment of Mah House during Question Hour

Mumbai, Mar 15: The controversial issue pertaining to the appointment of PJ Thomas as Chief Vigilance Commissioner figured in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly today resulting in adjournment of the House during the Question Hour.

Leader of Opposition Eknath Khadse raised the issue as soon as the House assembled for the day. He demanded a discussion on the matter and Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan''s clarification on his statement that the Kerala government was responsible for the vigilance report.

Chavan recently said that the vigilance clearance for Thomas, whose appointment as CVC was struck down by the Supreme Court, was given by Kerala, a claim which Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan said was completely false.

Also, the Prime Minister told the Rajya Sabha that he was unaware of the corruption case against Thomas and virtually blamed Chavan, former Union Minister of State for Personnel and Training, saying key information on the matter was not provided.

Speaker Dilip Valse Patil said the issue did not fall under the jurisdiction of the Maharashtra government and admonished the BJP for stalling the Question Hour to which Khadse said the office of the CVC covers the state of Maharashtra too.

"I am trying to tell you how the state government is connected to the issue," he said.

The Speaker said the CVC issue can be raised after the Question Hour and called out for the first question relating to the judicial enquiry into the Adarsh Society Housing scam.

"This is also a very important issue," the Speaker said and asked Sena MLA Suryakant Dalvi to raise the question.

Meanwhile, BJP members were on their feet pressing for a disscussion on the CVC issue following which the Speaker adjourned the House till the end of the Question Hour.

PTI