MP Assembly adjourned amid standoff between Oppn and Speaker

Bhopal, July 26(UNI) The standoff between Speaker Ishwardas Rohani and the opposition Congress members over delay in taking decision on a petition seeking disqualification of a member under the anti-defection law led to adjournment sine die of the Madhya Pradesh Assembly two days ahead of schedule today.

Despite the Congress members remaining in the well of the house raising slogans leading to two brief adjournments, the Speaker rushed through the business, including passage of two amendment bills, without any debate.

After the house adopted by voice vote a motion moved by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Narottam Mishra, the Speaker declared the house adjourned sine die and abruptly left the hall.

Thereafter, keeping with the tradition, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, his cabinet colleagues and other ruling and opposition members joined in the singing of national anthem with none in the chair.

It is the tradition of the house to sing 'Vande Mataram' at the start of the session and to sing the national anthem at the session's conclusion.

The Congress members sought to know about a petition moved by Mr Ramniwas Rawat(Cong) two years ago seeking disqualification of Rashtriya Samanata Dal member Harivallabh Shukla for contesting the last Lok Sabha election from Guna on BJP ticket.

They were insisting that the Speaker should hear the Leader of the Opposition Jamuna Devi, but the Speaker disallowed them to raise the issue leading to the standoff. After first adjournment for 15 minutes, the floor leaders met in the Speaker's chamber, but failed to break the deadlock.

Yesterday, the house made a record of sorts by passing seven bills, including Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Amendment Bill 2006, and allowed presentation of two other bills without debate in less than 15 minutes.

Two bills-- VAT (Second Amendment) Bill and Agricultural Cattle Protection Amendment Bill-- were passed in a similar style today also.

Without allowing time to raise the issue, the Speaker said the call attention notices would be considered as read out in the house.

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