Speaker orders govt probe into 'Chaturvedi CD' issue

Lucknow, Mar 12 (UNI) Uttar Pradesh assembly Speaker Mata Prasad Pandey today asked the state government to order a high level probe into the reported conversation between a petitioner and a reporter in which the former had used objectionable language against the judiciary and at least two members of the House, including Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav.

Vishwanath Chaturvedi -- a Congress leader -- who had moved the SC with a PIL seeking probe into the assets owned by the Chief Minister and his family members, had used objectionable words while talking to a reporter over a mobile phone. The conversation was recorded by the scribe and its CD handed over to SP general secretary Amar Singh. He had used the CD to target Congress claiming the SP leadership was being harassed for not toeing the Congress line.

The issue was raised in the house by Chotte Lal Yadav (SP) through a motion maintaining the petitioner had questioned the fairness of the judiciary. Chaturvedi had also used objectionable language for two members of a house, including a Congress leader and Chief Minister Mulayam Singh.

While BJP's Hukum Singh suggested a house committee to probe the issue, Leader of the Opposition Lalji Tandon (BJP) claimed that with elections round the corner, such issues were meaningless and the time of the house was not being utilised. He also said Speaker had no powers in the matter as the issue was handled by the Apex Court itself.

BJP members later staged a walkout. Other opposition parties, including BSP, Congress and RLD wre already not present.

State Parliamentary Affairs minister Md Azam Khan said the state government and the ruling Samajwadi Party held the judiciary in high esteem.

Mr Khan said it was a conspiracy hatched by the Congress to defame the Samajwadi Party leaders and apprehended that such move could lead to ' civil war ' in the country.

The Speaker later asked the government to probe the issue regarding two aspects as the allegation was made against the judiciary and the claim of the Congress petitioner that political party identity cards could be prepared by anyone.

UNI