Cong MLAs allege fraud in 'Sujalam Sufalam' scheme, stage walkout

Gandhinagar, Mar 14 (UNI) Congress members, while alleging that there has been a Rs 500 crore fraud in the Rs 7,000 crore irrigation scheme ''Sujalam Sufalam'', staged a walk-out of the Gujarat Assembly today.

Uproarious scenes were witnessed in the House with Congress members raising slogans while accusing the Narendra Modi Government of the ''scam''.

Senior Congress member Dr Chandrika Chudasma, during the debate on the budgetary demands of the irrigation department, alleged that the 15-member Public Accounts Committee (PAC), including five Congress members and headed by herself which was formed to evaluate the scheme, has found irregularities to the tune of Rs 500 crore in the scheme.

Gujarat Home Minister Amit Shah dismissed the charges as baseless. At this, Dr Chudasma asked the Minister to table the PAC report in the House.

At this point, both the opposition and ruling members rose to their feet and created noisy scenes in the House.

Congress members raised slogans like ''Bhrastachar Bandh Karo'' and ''Lokhsahi Ki Hatya Bandh Karo'' and, thereafter, staged a walkout lead by Leader of Opposition Arjun Modhwadia. The Congress members continued to raise the slogans outside the Chief Minister's Office.

Earlier, Speaker Mangaldas Patel had adjourned the House for 15 minutes when the Treasury benches and Opposition members created a ruckus in the House over the same issue.

UNI