Breach of privilege motion moved over newsreport on chikki row

MUMBAI: Maharashtra BJP legislator Prashant Bamb today submitted a breach of privilege notice against a national daily for publishing a news report that the state Women and Child Welfare Minister Pankaja Munde had admitted to charges in the 'chikki' row.

Bamb, a BJP legislator from Gangapur constituency in Aurangabad district, while moving the privilege notice against two journalists of the English daily, said the news report on an issue which was not discussed in the Assembly should have been filed after checking facts from the concerned department.

"The minister's clarification was carried by the newspaper but it said that it stood by its earlier story. The attempt was to malign the image of the government. This is breach of privilege of the august House," the member said.

As per the news report published last week, in her written reply during Question Hour in the Assembly, Munde said it was "partly true" that the 'chikki' and 'khichdi' deals were made on a rate contract basis though such purchases were banned for contracts worth Rs one crore and above.

According to Munde, it was "partly true" that the government had decided to abolish the rate contract system.

Under this system, the cost of items and the contractor are fixed by the government either through the industry or finance department by inviting tenders. So it is understood that for items which are on the rate contract list, tenders need not be called again.