Assembly adjourned over crops loss due to rains

Jaipur, Mar 13 (UNI) Rajasthan Assembly was adjourned for the day today as pandemonium prevailed over the issue of crop loss due to heavy unseasonal rainfall and hailstorm.

The Question Hour could not be conducted as legislators demanded compensation for the heavy losses suffered by the farmers in many districts across the state. The Assembly was adjourned twice once till 1200 hrs and later till 1400 hrs.

When the House reassembled after 1400 hrs, the ruckus and slogan shouting continued. Relief Minister K L Meena tried to give his statement amidst the din. But as chaos continued, Speaker Sumitra Singh adjourned the House till tomorrow.

Earlier, Opposition leader Ram Narain Choudhary demanded an immediate debate on damage to the crops due to hailstorm, suspending the Question Hour. He said the House was concerned over the losses suffered by the farmers and the state government should give a clarification on the matter.

Just as Mr Choudhary finished speaking, other Congress members and legislators began shouting, leading to a din in the House.

The Speaker tried to intervene and pacify the legislators, urging them to hear what she wanted to say. She informed the House that Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje had sought her permission before proceeding to survey the affected areas.

Mrs Singh said ripe crops, ready to be harvested have been damaged totally by the sudden rains. She urged the legislators to make rounds of their constituency and take stock of the damages caused, CPI(M)'s Amraram said the House should be suspended and legislators should be allowed to go to their constituencies to assess the damage.

When the Relief Minister tried to give a statement, the Opposition legislators stood up and started shouting slogans and CPI (M) and Bahujan Samaj Party legislators came before the well of the House.

UNI