Paddy ‘scam’: 12 Cong MLAs named for insisting on probe

Geetanjali Gayatri

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 1

Twelve Congress MLAs were named for insisting on an inquiry into the “paddy scam” while the party’s two remaining MLAs staged a walkout to protest the BJP government’s disinclination for a probe after “talks” between the Opposition and the government proved to be inconclusive during an adjournment.

In zero hour on the concluding day of the session, the Congress MLAs, barring former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Karan Dalal, trooped into the well, seeking an inquiry into the scam

Amidst sloganeering by the ruling Benches attacking the Congress MLAs for raising a “fake issue” and counter-sloganeering by the Congress MLAs insisting on a probe, Speaker Kunwar Pal Gujjar urged the Congress legislators to go back to their seats since the government had addressed their concerns during yesterday’s calling-attention motion on the same subject. “There is no scam in the purchase of paddy. I am satisfied with the government’s reply,” he stated but Congress MLAs continued to shout “jaanch karo” slogans.

Realising he wasn’t making any headway, the Speaker adjourned the House and called them for a meeting. This adjournment was extended by 20 more minutes but the Congress MLAs did not give in to the government’s plea, evident in the fact that they resumed their sloganeering when the House met again.

After warning them, Deputy Speaker Santosh Yadav, in the Chair at that time, named all Congress MLAs in the House barring Karan Dalal who were escorted out by the marshalls. Former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda who hadn’t gone to the well of the House asked Yadav why he had been named. His naming was later taken back.

Hooda followed this up by demanding a though probe into the scam in which farmers were feeling cheated after their produce was bought at rates lower than the MSP while it was being sold at double the rates. “We will not allow the voice of people and their concerns to be stifled. You can name us and send us out from the House but we will go back to the people,” he said, making his point and staging a walkout.

Leader of Opposition Abhay Chautala urged the Speaker to call back the named MLAs since it was not expected of him to “keep the Opposition out which was the rule during the Congress regime”.

At this, Chief Minister Manohar lal Khattar said he was all for calling back the named MLAS if they were willing to participate in the discussion since there was no merit in the Congress’ allegations, prompting Dalal, the only Congress MLA in the House, to also stage a walkout.

Chaudhry, Hooda and other MLAs later told mediapersons that they were seeking an inquiry into the paddy scam since the farmers had been cheated twice over—once when their produce was bought at rates lower than the MSP and, now, again, when that produce was being sold at double the prices.

Hooda, alleging that it was a double whammy for the farmers, said, “Farmers were gioven only Rs 1200 per quintal for the produce against the MSP of 1450 per quintal. How is it that when the farmers have sold their produce, the prices have suddenly risen to Rs 3,000 per quintal? There is big scam in this and needs to be investigated,” Hooda said.

Khattar denies ‘scam’

Chandigarh: Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Tuesday clarified that not a single irregularity had occurred during paddy procurement in the state. In case any irregularity or scam is found during physical verification of the paddy stock to be conducted under the supervision of officer of the level of Financial Commissioner(Revenue), it would be dealt with strictly. “There are hundreds of rice mills functioning in the state. We will not hesitate to take action as we had taken  action against 41 rice mills,”  Khattar said while addressing a press conference here on Tuesday. Khattar said  the state government would bring a Bill in the next session to amend the labour law. “We have increased from November 1 the minimum monthly wages of unskilled labourers to Rs 7,600 which amounts to Rs 300 per day. Similarly, the minimum monthly wages of highly skilled labourers have been increased from Rs 6,537 to Rs 9,700 with an increase of 45 per cent,” the CM added.

What hooda said

We will not allow the voice of people and their concerns to be stifled. You can name us and send us out from the House but we will go back to the people — Bhupinder Singh Hooda, former CM