Azam Khan and Swami Prasad Maurya's banter lightens UP assembly mood

LUCKNOW: BJP leader Swami Prasad Maurya was once again caught amidst banter between treasury and opposition in UP assembly with Minister Azam Khan quipping that his name should be included in Guinness book of world records for his knowledge.

While Maurya attracted comments from Khan on Monday, when he raked Khan's buffalo-theft incident, today he was once again on the receiving end when he suggested during the question hour that there should be an expert committee to ascertain losses to potato due to rain and hailstorm.

"There should be a technical committee to ascertain losses to potato growers and it grows under the ground...The District Magistrate and revenue officials, who do the job are not trained enough for the job", Maurya said.

Replying to him, cabinet Minister Shivpal Yadav said that presently DMs were surveying and ascertaining the losses, if any and if demanded by them experts could be included in the process.

However, unsatisfied with the answer Maurya staged a walkout of the House with BSP members.

Meanwhile, Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Khan stood in his place and thanked Maurya for "enlightning" the House that potato grows under the ground.

"We thank him for enlightning that potato grows under the ground..We should recommend his name for the Guinness book of world record, where such persons find place", Khan said in a lighter vein.

BJP legislative party leader, Hukum Singh too said that Maurya had done a great job by informing that potato grows under the ground.

"I thank him for informing that potato grows under the ground...Otherwise, we would have looked at it on a tree", Singh said as other members smiled.

On Monday, Maurya during the assembly session to highlight the worsening condition of law and order in the state.

Retorting to the remark, Khan offered a buffalo to the Opposition leader, and said newspapers would publish this issue prominently with pictures of the buffaloes and Maurya, and people would not be able to distinguish between the two.