Madhya Pradesh assembly adjourned sine die after ruckus over MPPEB scam

BHOPAL: In a surprise move, the Budget session of Madhya Pradesh Assembly was today adjourned sine die 29 days ahead of its schedule, amid the raging controversy over MP Professional Examination Board scam, after passing the state's annual budget 2015-16 by a voice vote.

The budget presented yesterday was passed by a voice vote amid bedlam created by the treasury benches, which strongly condemned the opposition Congress' behaviour of repeatedly disrupting the House, since its commencement on February 18, over the MP Professional Examination Board (MPPEB) scam.

As the House assembled today, Speaker Sitasharan Sharma took up the listed business by beginning with the Question Hour.

But, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Narottam Mishra raised the issue of the opposition's alleged irresponsible behaviour over the MPPEB scam.

Mishra urged the Speaker to allow him to table the Censure Motion against Congress members who had created ruckus in the House by showing disrespect to the Governor and had later boycotted his customary address.

He said that they did not even allow Leader of the House Shivraj Singh Chouhan to reply to the motion of thanks to the Governor's address.

The Speaker then asked him to wait till the completion of the Question at 11.30 AM. But, the ruling party members created uproar condemning the opposition's behaviour.

Congress members too objected to Mishra's intervention, leading to a heated exchange of words between them following which the Speaker adjourned the House for 15 minutes.

When the House re-assembled, the situation remained unchanged following which the Speaker again adjourned the House till 11.30 AM.

Post adjournment when the House took the listed business, Mishra tabled the Censure Motion to which the Congress members objected. Amid din, Forest Minister Gaurishanker Shejwar also seconded it and it was passed by voice vote.

Congress member Ramniwas Rawat could not reply to the Censure Motion following disruptions.

Later, the Congress members trooped into the well of the House and squatted there.

Amid the din, the Assembly passed the budget and Appropriation Bill by voice vote without any discussion following which the Speaker adjourned the House sine-die.