Uproar in Chhattisgarh assembly over office of profit issue

Raipur, Mar 24 (UNI) Amid slogan shouting and noisy scenes over 'office of profit' controversy, Chhattisgarh assembly was adjourned twice today as Opposition Congress members demanded a discussion alleging over a dozen ruling party legislators were holding an office of profit.

Raising the issue during zero hour, leader of the Opposition Mahendra Karma said about a dozen BJP legislators, including ministers, were holding an 'office of profit' and hence the house should take up a discussion on the opposition members notice for adjournment motion.

Demanding that all those who were holding office of profit should resign on moral grounds, Mr Ravindra Choubey, Mr Satya Narayan Sharma and other Congress members supported the Leader of the Opposition saying these legislators were holding lucrative posts and enjoying benefits from them.

Law and legislative Affairs Minister Brijmohan Agrawal, opposed the Opposition contention, saying it was not an issue to be debated by the House. He argued that ministers could hold "ex-officio " charge as chairman of corporations and boards.

Alleging that the opposition was trying to put the forum of assembly for political use, he urged the Congress legislators to raise issues concerning the interests of the state and its people on the floor of the assembly.

As opposition members continued to press for a debate on their notice for adjournment motion, Speaker Prem Prakash Pandey disallowed discussion on the motion saying that the issue of any members' disqualification on such grounds has to be considered by the Election Commission. Hence it cannot be discussed in the house, he added.

Opposition Congress members, who were on their feet demanding a debate on the issue, raised slogans, forcing Speaker Prem Prakash Pandey to adjourn the house for ten minutes.

Even after the house re-assembled, Congress members continued with their demand for a discussion. As the Legislative Affairs Minister Brij Mohan Agrawal said '' your leader (Sonia Gandhi) had to resign because of her own mistake'', the Congress members were on their feet raising slogans against the BJP government.

Subsequently, the Speaker adjourned the house again for ten minutes.

UNI JJ SP LS PC1426