Healthy debate in Assembly a must : Speaker

Ranchi, Nov 22 (UNI) Jharkhand Speaker Alam Gir Alam today said a healthy debate in the House was a must in the coalition era and solution to all social issues from Naxalism to politics could be achieved through discussion.

Mr Alam expressed concern over the fact that image of the Legislature was no more healthy among the people, who had already started thinking that whatever discussion took place in the Assembly did not bear any fruit.

Speaking on the occasion of the seventh foundation day of the Jharkhand Assembly here, the Speaker hoped the Legislators would make good use of the Assembly sessions in the state.

Mr Alam's appeal assumed significance in the wake of repeated disruptions of the Assembly proceedings in the past and also the coming winter session to be held sometime next month.

He said, '' We should know the rules of the House and accordingly raise issues of public interests...Often we are faced with crisis when issues are raised in improper ways leading to pandemonium. '' The Speaker said,'' In the past seven years, what we have achieved should be deemed as an initiation and where we had failed should be taken as a goal to reach. '' Governor Syed Sibtey Razi speaking as the chief guest urged the Legislators to keep healthy image among the people, adding when an MLA was elevated to a Minister he should behave like a Minister of the whole state, not that he would confine his activities to the constituency concerned.

Chief Minister Madhu Koda also echoed the same sentiments, saying all Legislators should be united when issues of major public grievances were concerned.

Other dignitaries, who spoke on the occasion, were Deputy Chief Ministers Stephen Marandi and Sudhir Mahto and Leader of Opposition Arjun Munda.

The Governor handed over the best Legislator award to BJP's P N Singh.

Mr Singh announced to donate Rs 50,000 he received as part of the award to the victims' families of the Chilkhari massacre in which 20 people were gunned down by CPI(Maoist) recently in Giridih district.

Senior IAS officer A K Singh received the best public servant, while Director General of Police Vishnu Dayal Singh was conferred best police officer of the year.

Fourteen former Legislators, elected in 1967 to the undivided Bihar Assembly from Jharkhand region, were also honoured on the occasion.

UNI