Are legislators bonded labour?

Bhopal, Mar 30 (UNI) Are legislators bonded labour? This poser echoed in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly today when an opposition member questioned the propriety of a marathon sitting on the final day of the curtailed budget session.

Deputy Speaker Hazarilal Raghuvanshi, who was taken aback by Bahujan Samaj Party member I M P Verma's remark during a debate on an amendment bill to the Panchayati Raj Act, had a heated argument with the member and also expunged certain remarks. A few treasury bench members joined the protest.

Mr Raghuvanshi tried to pacify Dr Verma by saying that the Business Advisory Committee (BAC), also having opposition members, finalised the agenda and such a decision could not be challenged. He reasoned that Dr Verma was provided maximum time during debates.

Dr Verma, a member for three terms, had taken exception to inclusion of 11 government bills for passage on the session's last day and allotting five hours for the related debate while earmarking two-and-a-half hours for private members' bills.

When Dr Verma's turn came to join the debate, Speaker Ishwardas Rohani -- who later assumed the chair -- tried to restore bonhomie by asking the BSP member to smile before making his statement.

The Assembly -- whose budget session was scheduled to conclude on April 5 -- is likely to be adjourned sine die later today. The BAC also decided not to have sittings from April 2 to 5, the Speaker told the House.

UNI