Raipur:Minister Kawasi Lakhma cornered by Congress MLA Chhanni Sahu
Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly Speaker DrCharandas Mahant on Tuesday directed Minister Umesh Patel for an inquiry into the District Mineral Fund Trust (DMF) fund following a heated debate over alleged corruption in the fund on the second day of the Winter Session of the Assembly.
During the question hour, opposition BJP created a ruckus by alleging corruption in the DMF fund.
The opposition member Sourabh Singh alleged the misuse of funds of 33 crore. he said that employment training programs were to be done with DMF of Rs 33 crore, in which he alleged misuse of the amount. In response, Minister Umesh Patel said that Rs 33 crorehas been spent in three years. But the BJP said that no money was spent on training in Janjgir district.
BJP MLAs Brijmohan Agarwal, Ajay Chandrakar and others together created an uproar over the issue alleging misappropriation of the fund, disallowing the Minister to answer properly, prompting the Speaker to intervene.
The Speaker asked the minister for an inquiry into the matter. After this, while assuring the opposition, Minister Umesh Patel said that he will get it investigated.
In a major development in the House today, Congress MLA Chhanni Sahu surrounded Excise Minister Kawasi Lakhma. In fact, some time ago, the officers of the Excise Department had caught the student of 8th standard of Chhanni’s assembly constituency in Khujji. It was said that 10 cartons of liquor were found with 3 people on a bike and the student was also involved in smuggling.
There was a ruckus on this issue, Chhanni asked Minister Kawasi to tell me if there are three people on one bike and can 10 cartons of liquor be brought in it? In response, the minister said he will see the matter. The MLA however repeated whether 10 boxes of liquor would come on a bike. Lakhma said that three boxes can come on one bike. BJP MLA BrijmohanAgrawal entered into the debate and said the minister himself is accepting that three cases of liquor will come on a bike. Excise officials are deliberately working to trap someone.
BJP MLAs created ruckus after hearing Lakhma’sevasive answer. Brijmohan said that it is serious that the future of the 8th class student was spoiled by being caught. The officers took this action for the enmity.
Brijmohan Agarwal further said – When the minister is accepting that 10 boxes of liquor cannot be carried on a bike, suspend the officer and announce in the House itself, give compensation to the child who has been implicated. Chhanni Sahu said the whole action is wrong in this case the action being taken against the class 8th student should be nullified. Responding to these things, Minister Kawasi Lakhma said that he willlook into the matter and action will be taken against whoever is guilty.
