Heated debate on supplementary budget, cough syrup case, crop damage

 

 

 

 

ON THURSDAY, the third day of the Madhya Pradesh Assembly’s Winter Session witnessed discussion on the supplementary budget, an exchange of heated arguments between ruling party and opposition leaders over compensation for crop damage to farmers in the State. Congress MLAs staged a walk out and the legislators staged an eye-catching protest as they came in attire of monkeys.

 

Singhar alleged that monkeys are snatching jobs and disturbing the law and order situation in the State. The first two days of the session, which began on Monday and Tuesday, saw considerable uproar in the House. Wednesday was a holiday due to the Bhopal Gas Tragedy. Outside the House, in a unique protest, Congress MLA Sunil Uikey arrived dressed as a monkey and carrying a razor, depicting the BJP government as a novice carrying a sharp tool (to run the state).

 

As far as the serious business inside the house is concerned, there was a huge uproar over death due to cough syrup and the farmers’ losses due to the flood. Till the filing of this report debate on the second supplementary budget presented on Tuesday by Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Jagdish Devda, was going on. The Rs 13,476.94 crore budget includes Rs 8,448.57 crore under the revenue head and Rs 5,028.37 crore under the capital head. Major allocations include the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and Ladli Bahna Scheme. As per the details: Rs 4,000 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Rs 1,794 crore for the Mukhyamantri Ladli Bahna Yojana (Women & Child Development) Rs 500 crore for the Bhavantar/flat rate scheme (Farmers’ Welfare & Agriculture Development).

 

In response to a question posed by LOP Umang Singhar, the State Government admitted that 24 children have died in the State due to cough syrup (Coldrif) since September 4. However, regarding fixing responsibility, the Government stated: “The responsibility primarily lies with Srisan Pharma, based in Tamil Nadu, whose oversight was the responsibility of the Drugs Department of the Tamil Nadu Government.” Congress MLA Babu Jhandewale said that during Question Hour, “Farmers in Shivpuri district have not yet received compensation, despite the Government’s announcement that they would be compensated at the rate of 16,000 rupees per hectare.”

 

The Revenue Minister said, “All farmers have been compensated for their losses.” Approximately Rs 200 crore has been paid.” Dissatisfied with the minister’s response, the Leader of the Opposition said, “The estimate is Rs 5,000 crore, but so far only Rs 200 crore has been disbursed. It’s a mere drop in the ocean. Farmers across the State are suffering. Why doesn’t the Government talk about it today? Instead, it’s citing figures from the Congress government

 

” Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav said, “Your Government used to pay Rs 3,000 per hectare, but we’re paying Rs 16,000 per hectare.” Another Congress legislature claimed, no compensation for excessive rainfall is being given to farmers. Congress MLA Satish Sikarwar raised the issue of farmers in Gwalior district suffering losses due to excessive rainfall, saying, “Only three farmers were reported to have suffered losses due to excessive rainfall, but only Rs 15,000 compensation was given.” Whereas a large number of farmers have suffered losses in several tehsils of the district

 

” The Assembly Speaker said, “There are established criteria for relief funds; if a farmer does not meet those criteria, he will not receive the relief amount.” The supplementary budget of Rs 13,476 crore was discussed. 71 petitions were also presented in the House on the third day. Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya said, “There are Urdu teachers throughout the State, but in many places there are no Urdu students. The School Education Minister should conduct a state-wide review.” Minister Uday Pratap Singh said that in Rajgarh district, there are 20 Urdu teachers in 15 schools, while the number of students is 200.

 

The minister said, “Teachers will be removed from schools with zero students and sent to remote schools with Urdu students, where they will be retained for three years. Rationalisation is being done for teachers of all subjects, not just Urdu. Last year, approximately 20,000 teachers were relocated. In schools with fewer than 10 students, teachers will be relocated.” Kailash Vijayvargiya spoke on allegations of altering questions: Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya raised the issue of allegations of changing questions in the Assembly, saying, “Allegations have been made both inside and outside the House that members’ questions were changed.

 

This is a direct question on the Chair. This is highly objectionable, this practice is wrong. You are not performing your duties honestly and then questioning the entire system.” Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition Umang Singhar said, “This is Question Hour. If this issue needs to be debated, then a separate 10-minute time slot should be set aside.”