Oppn walkout over Govindgarh bus accident

Bhopal, Nov 3 (UNI) The opposition members today staged a walkout in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly alleging ''non-serious'' attitude of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to their demand for a judicial inquiry into the Govindgarh bus accident, in which 62 people were killed.

Initially, Congress member Rajendra Kumar Singh, who moved the call attention notice, staged the walkout saying the Chief Minister had not responded to his request for a judicial inquiry, while other Congress members, led by Opposition leader Jamuna Devi, joined in the walkout saying they were not satisfied with the reply by Minister of State for Home' Nagendra Singh.

CPI(M) member Ramlakhan Sharma later walked out alleging the government was in a cover-up mode to shield certain people.

Dr I M P Verma (BSP) alleged the Chief Minister was adopting double standard in accidents saying a judicial probe was ordered into the death of many pilgrims at Ratangarh due to release of water from a dam in Shivpuri district, while the government was not ready for such a probe into the bus accident in which many poor families perished.

Mr Rajendra Kumar Singh said the 1988 model private bus plying between Hinouti and Rewa plunged into a 35-feet deep pond at Govindgarh on October 19 killing 62 people and injuring 10 others.

''Laxity of the district authorities of Rewa and Satna, Transport, Public Works, Water Resources and police departments, besides highhandedness of the bus operators caused the accident'', he said and sought a judicial inquiry.

He alleged initially permit was issued for only 32 passengers, while it was later changed to 52. The fitness was given on back date, he added.

Minister of State for Home Nagendra Singh, in his reply, said the accident occurred as the right side spring had broken. He admitted the bus, having the permit issued to Shriniwas Tiwari of Rewa, was overloaded with 72 passengers on board at the time of accident, while the permit was only for 52 plus two.

The opposition members protested the minister's offer to conduct the probe by the Divisional Commissioner, saying the DC was also the Regional Transport Authority and contended that only a judicial probe could bring out the facts. They alleged rampant corruption in the transport offices of Rewa and Satna.

The minister also turned down the opposition demand for providing job to at least one member of the affected families and special care of the victims' children, who had become orphans.

The Chief Minister, who was present during the debate, did not respond despite repeated prodding by the opposition members.

UNI SP MS KP1515