Congress stages walkout in Raj Assy

Jaipur, Mar 18 (UNI) The Opposition Congress today staged a walkout in Rajasthan Assembly protesting against the State Government's alleged bid for drawing ''undue credit'' over implementation of National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) being implemented in the state.

Congress leader Hari Mohan Sharma sought permission from Deputy Speaker Ram Narain Vishnoi to raise the issue in the Zero Hour through a call attention motion.

However, Mr Vishnoi expressed his inability to allow members, including Mr Sharma, to speak on their call atttention and/or adjournment motions.

Mr Vishnoi said in view of busy schedule for the day, he would not allow the members to speak on their respective motion, but their written statements would be treated as read out in the house.

Mr Sharma was not satisfied at that and started protesting against the government's attitude over the issue.

He said the government had neither used pictures of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on information hoardings being displayed at different locations about NREGS, nor it had mentioned about the Centre, which actually implemented the scheme throughout the state.

Several Congress members, including B D Kalla, Zuber Khan, Mahir Azad, Babu Lal Nagar, supported Mr Sharma while Treasury Benches members prevented the same.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Rajendra Singh Rathore and Government Chief Whip Mahavir Prasad Jain raised objection over Congress members' attitude and said they were disregarding the ruling of the chair.

This led to pandemonium in the House as the Congress members gathered in the well of the House and started raising slogans against the government.

The ruling BJP members also raised anti-Congress slogans but the Deputy Speaker ordered mediapersons not to record the same.

This continued for over 10 minutes and ended with the walkout by the Opposition members.

UNI SS GL KN1430