Speaker asks government for inquiry into MLA ChhanniChandu Sahu & Pramod Sharma cases
Report should be submitted to him by 11 am on Friday, said Speaker Dr Charandas Mahant
Dr Mahant directed the government to double the security of MLA Chhanni Chandu Sahu and MLA Pramod Sharma.
The issue of safety of elected public representatives ricked the Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly on Thursday as Congress MLA from Khujji Assembly Constituency Chhanni ChanduSahu narrated her pain in the House urging for justice. The MLA got emotional while narrating her agony, questioning the intention of the state government.
The plight of the woman MLA Chhanni Chandu Sahu forced the Speaker Dr Charandas Mahant to direct the government for an inquiry into her case as well as into the case of MLA PramodSharma and submit report to him by 11 am on Friday.
Chhanni read out a written note in the House during the Zero Hour. She said in the House that she had returned her security when an FIR was registered against her husband under The Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act on the basis of a fake complaint one month ago. Without security cover, she has been forced to visit in her assembly constituency, which is Naxal affected, for the last one month. Chhanni Chandu Sahu further said that she had raised this matter on every platform including Home Minister Tamradhwaj Sahu but her grievance was not addressed. The Congress MLA said that her family was not safe and when the family of a woman MLA, who belongs to the ruling Congress, was not safe and how the common persons will be safe.
She also said that a conspiracy was hatched to trap her husband in a fake case and some mafias that were given protection by the State government were also involved in the matter.
Baloda Bazar Janta Congress Chhattisgarh (Jogi) MLA PramodSharma also alleged in the House that an FIR was registered against him when he went to attend a public hearing in his assembly constituency. The State government is suppressing the voices of dissent being raised against the Chief Minister and the Congress.
Leader of Opposition in Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly Dharam Lal Kaushik took the side of MLA Chhani Chandu Sahuand said that a female MLA is being harassed in the Congress rule. Besides Chhani Chandu Sahu, many MLAs are being harassed in the Congress rule. If the honour of the MLAs is not protected in the Assembly the how can one expect the honour of the MLA to be protected outside? If action is being taken against the MLAs out of revenge, then the law and order situation has completely collapsed in the state, Kaushik added. The Leader of Opposition demanded the Speaker to take cognizance of the matter.
BJP MLA Brijmohan Agarwal said that it is a serious matter and the incidents happening with the female MLA for three months are shameful. Agrawal raised the issue of the dignity of the members of the House. Janta Congress Chhattisgarh (Jogi) MLA Dharamjit Singh said that the people elected the MLAs, and they should be respected. The misuse of the police against public representatives is an indecent act, he added. Dharamjit Singh also demanded to abolish the case against Chhanni ChanduSahu’s husband under atrocity act.
MLA Shivratan Sharma demanded a probe by a committee constituted by Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly. MLA Narayan Chandel described the action against the MLAs as an ‘attack’ on Legislative Assembly’. MLA Ajay Chandrakar said that the concerned person is not being taken due to protection. Dr. Raman Singh said that he has not yet seen such a scene that the MLA is expressing pain by shedding tears in the House. The matter should be resolved immediately. The concerned inquiry should be taken against the responsible officers in the matter, he added.
Hearing the pain of woman Congress MLA Chhanni ChanduSahu, Speaker of Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly Dr CharanDas Mahant said that the action against the MLA’s husband is not proper.
The Speaker directed to the State government to re-examine the cases registered against Chhanni Chandu Sahu’s husband and Balodabazar MLA Pramod Sharma. The Speaker also directed to submit the report before the commencement of the House on Friday. Dr Mahant also directed the State government to double the security of MLA Chhanni Chandu Sahu and MLA PramodSharma.