BSP, CPI(M) stage walkout in MP Assly

Bhopal, Mar 13 (UNI) Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) members staged a walkout in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly today alleging financial irregularities in imparting training under Rewa district's Swarna Jayanti Gram Swarojgar Yojana.

Replying to Mr Girish Gautam (BJP), Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Rustam Singh admitted during question hour that training under the scheme was imparted by a non-government organisation in which more transparency was expected. Besides, tenders should have been invited prior to allotting the task, he observed.

Denying any bungling, he said since the work was satisfactory, the concerned officer was issued only a warning for alleged shortcomings.

Alleging irregularities and non-transparency in the work and expressing discontent on the minister's reply, Mr Ramlakhan Sharma (CPI-M)) and Dr IMP Verma (BSP) staged walkout.

The minister informed that under the scheme the task of imparting training of skill improvement to groups was given to city-based Arbind Vihar on a payment of Rs 34.58 lakh.

UNI PKJ-KV SP 1511