Con MLAs stage walkout over inaction in female foeticide cases

Jaipur, Oct 9 (UNI) Congress legislators in the Assembly staged a walk-out today in protest against the state government's ''inadequate measures'' to check female foeticide.

Replying to a query by BJP legislator Pramod Jain, Health Minister Dr Digamber Singh said the state government has taken stringent action under the rules against the guilty doctors. He said they have also initiated action against the doctors and nursing staff caught in a sting operation by a news channel.

However, Home Minister Gulab Chand Kataria said action against those caught in the sting operation could not be taken since the statements of those who conducted the operation were not recorded.

On this, Speaker Sumitra Singh said the state government can take the help of the intelligence wing in the case. Mr Kataria replied that the departmental enquiry is over but for action to be taken, statements of those who conducted the sting operation along with the woman who actually met the doctors must be recorded. He also said the unedited CD of the sting operation must be made available before any action can be taken.

Noisy scenes then ensured as both Treasury and Opposition benches started trading charges against each other.

In the midst of the din, Oppositiion leader Ram Narain Choudhary said the state government has failed to provide satisfying replies, hence the Congress members would stage a walk-out.

Earlier Speaker Sumitra Singh asked health minister to inform the House about the action against those found guilty in the sting operation to which Dr Singh said 14 doctors and one ANM have been suspended in the case. Six sonography machines have been seized and registration of nine organisations have been cancelled.

Congress' Dr Chandrasekhar Baid said 14 cases were shown in the sting operation but so far action has been taken only in seven cases.

Congress member Mamta Sharma said Madhya Pradesh and Guajrat took prompt action after the sting operations in their states, but no such promptness could be seen in Rajasthan.

UNI RRT LL BS1418