‘Aparajita’ Shukla AS EXPECTED, the five-day Winter Session of State Assembly started with protests and a dramatic representation of Chhindwara cough syrup tragedy matter by the Opposition members in Assembly complex on Monday. Followed by legislative business on a stormy note over unemployment, compressed session and farmers’ issues. At the beginning, House paid tributes to those who recently lost their lives in the country but the atmosphere in the Assembly soon turned stormy over short period of session and farmers’ matter.

 

Amid chaos Speaker Narendra Singh Tomar had to adjourn the House till 3 pm. Leaders of Opposition Umang Singhar and ruling party exchanged heated arguments over brief Winter Session. The LoP accused Government of escaping from discussion over various issues of public interest and that’s why only four sittings are scheduled. Raising the issue of farmers, Bhanwar Singh Shekhawat said that Government’s apathetic attitude towards farmers have been highlighted. Now crop damage is not an issue.

 

Farmers are facing hardship due to inadequate power supply. It was promised to provide minimum support price to farmers on soybean but Bhavantar Scheme is nothing less than a tool to mislead our farmers. Even centers for maize crop have not been decided yet. Our farmers are bound to sell their crops to traders on low prices. Congress MLA from Tikamgarh, Yadavendra Singh said that the Government is lying on the issue. Farmers in Bundelkhand are in a very bad condition. They’re not getting MSP. Even the price difference is just on paper. Farming has become a loss-making business, not a profitable one.

 

There’s still no survey of fake fertilisers, fake seeds, fertiliser shortages and losses. During Question Hour, MLA Abhilash Pandey asked how many youths have been trained under the Skill Development Scheme? How many people have been trained under this scheme in Jabalpur? Opposition also accused Government of altering the questions to be asked in the House. However, senior BJP leaders denied charges levelled by the Congress. Legislators act against the decorum of House.

 

Minister Prahalad Singh Patel talking to ‘The Hitavada’ on the sidelines of the session said “whatever complaint Opposition leaders have they should put it before the Speaker. It is against the system to level charges outside the House. Session is going on and Opposition should raise the issue before the Speaker. Earlier, in a symbolic protest, Congress MLAs led by Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar carried posters and dolls highlighting the cough syrup tragedy that killed over 25 children in Chhindwara and other districts.

 

One woman Congress MLA played the role of demoness ‘Putana’ and blamed the ruling BJP for the horrific incident. Making mockery over minting money from potato crop in an veiled attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi whose statement to mint money from potato crop, BJP MLA Rameshwar Sharma said that Congress use to make such statements. BJP Government is committed to farmers’ welfare and several decisions have been taken in this direction. Our Government wont’ hesitate to take stern action if someone cheats our farmers.

 

Responding to Sharma’s comment indirect on Rahul Gandhi, LoP Umang Singhar said that Sharma very well knows how to prepare shampoo from onion. Hitting back at Singhar, Sharma claimed to bring shampoo made from onion in the House. Their discussion on farmers issue intensified and created uproar in this House as a result Speaker had to adjourn the house till 3 pm.

 

Earlier, the House paid tributes to former Members of the Legislative Assembly, Ganesan, Governor of Nagaland and former Rajya Sabha Member Prakash Jaiswal, former Union Minister Subhash Ahuja, former Lok Sabha Member, Dharmendra, former Lok Sabha Member and renowned film actor, those who died in the car bomb explosion near the Red Fort in Delhi on November 10. the House also paid tributes to Hawk Force Inspector Ashish Sharma, martyred in an encounter with Naxalites in the forests of Rajnandgaon district, Chhattisgarh on November 19.