Opposition furore on power in Delhi Assembly

New Delhi, Dec 26 (UNI) The Bharatiya Janata Party today raised furore in the Delhi Legislative Assembly demanding a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry in the scam relating to the privatisation of power distribution in Delhi.

However the state government claimed the CVC had given a clean chit to the Chief Minister and the state cabinet.

Immediately after the obituary references on the opening day of the winter session of the assembly, the BJP members started demanding the inquiry of the scam be entrusted to the CBI, especially after the House in November last year, had unanimously adopted a the PAC report on privatisation of power in Delhi that had called for CBI probe of the case.

Raising the demand, Leader of the Opposition Jagdish Mukhi said '' a notice of breach of privilege and contempt of the House by Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit was given by me on November 7 last year in respect of the PAC report which had been unanimously adopted by the House and directed the Delhi government to send this case for CBI investigation. However, till date no action has been taken in this regard.'' The opposition created furore over the matter and disrupted the proceedings during the Question hour for about 20 minutes. Only after Speaker Prem Singh said the matter could be taken up after Question hour the BJP members allowed the proceedings to function normally.

The matter was again raised by the BJP members led by Dr Mukhi immediately after Question hour.

The statement by Power Minister A K Walia that the CVC had given a clean chit to the Chief Minister did not satisfy the BJP members who stood up on their seats demanding that the Government should immediately handover the case to CBI.

The furore forced the adjournment of the House for 15 minutes.

Immediately after the House reassembled, the Speaker read out a reply by the Chief Minister which said ''in the PAC report, there is no mention of either the Chief Minister or the state cabinet.

The report mentions only the name of some officers that have been cleared by the CVC. Further, the CBI functions under the CVC''.

Not satisfied by the Chief Minister's reply, the opposition members persisted with their demand raising slogans like 'CBI se Jaanch Karao' (get the matter investigated by the CBI).

Consequently, the House was adjourned again for 15 minutes.

Later, addressing a press conference, Dr Mukhi said,'' by not agreeing to the decision of the House, the Chief Minister has proved that the Government is totally involved in corruption.'' ''Also, by not allowing the Opposition to have its say, the Chief Minister has proved herself to be a dictator,''he added.

UNI