Jakhar stops address midway in MP Assembly

Bhopal, Feb 19 (UNI) The Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly today witnessed an unprecedented situation when Governor Balram Jakhar stopped his address midway following interruption by opposition members and took his seat after declaring that his address may be taken as read.

After interruption the Governor stopped his address midway for ten minutes and locked horns with the agitated opposition on the style of their protest.

Mr Jakhar resumed his address on the prodding by the treasury bench.

At the conclusion of his address, Mr Jakhar sarcastically expressed his gratitude to the members for ''attentively hearing his address''.

Immediately after the Governor started his address on the opening day of the Assembly's budget session, Dr Sunilam of the Samajwadi Party, interrupted saying over 10 lakh people had been removed from the list of Below Poverty Line. He urged that the Governor should spell out only truth as the state's farmers were in distress and democratic protest was being silenced through brutal use of police force.

The Governor, initially in a conciliary note, suggested the members could raise their views after the address and added they could take his address as read. Dr I M P Verma (BSP) also lent his support to Dr Sunilam saying the Governor's address be treated as read.

Deviating from the tradition, the Governor also joined in an argument with the opposition members asking them about the relevance of continuing his address and expressed his displeasure over their style of protest. ''If you don't want, my address may be taken read,'', Mr Jakhar said and took his seat by the side of Speaker Ishwardas Rohani.

Immediately, former Chief Minister Babulal Gaur and other members of the treasury bench were on their feet protesting the attitude of the opposition. Mr Ramlakhan Sharma(CPI-M) pointed out that the treasury bench was also causing hurdles.

On the request of the Speaker and the treasury bench, Mr Jakhar resumed his speech after ten minutes.

After the Governor's address, Mrs Sudha Jain(BJP) moved the vote of thanks on the Governor's address to the house and it was seconded by Mr Dal Singh Bisen(BJP).

Mr Devendra Varma(BJP), who was elected from Pandhana in a byelection, took oath as member of the House.

While adjourning the sitting till tomorrow, Mr Rohani said Yoga guru Ramdev will impart Yoga training to the legislators at the Assembly premises tomorrow morning.

UNI