Vyapam scam: MP Assembly's session adjourned as Opposition tries to condole deaths

BHOPAL: The opening day of Madhya Pradesh Assembly's Monsoon session was today adjourned for the day as Opposition members tried to pay respect to TV journalist Akshay Singh and MBBS student Namrata Damor, who died under mysterious circumstances after the Vyapam scam was exposed.

As the House assembled for the first day of the 12-day long session, Speaker Dr Sitasharan Sharma administered oath to newly elected BJP MLA from Garoth seat Chander Singh Sisodia.

Later, the Speaker mentioned about the demise of former members of the House and eminent persons, including Lok Sabha MP Dileep Singh Bhuria, former Union Minister Sheila Kaul, former MP Gufran-e-Azam, noted architect Charles Correa and ex-IAS officer M N Buch, and paid tributes to them.

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan also recalled their contribution in social and political spheres and paid them rich tributes.

Leader of Opposition Satyadev Katare too paid them homage and in continuation also mentioned about the death of Akshay Singh and Namrata Damor and tried to express condolence on their demise.

However, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Narottam Mishra raised the Point of Order and said if a member wants to raise any issue in the House besides those mentioned in the list of business, he has to seek prior permission of the Speaker.

At this point, the other Opposition members also raised the issue of deaths of all other persons who died after the scam came to light and termed them as "Vyapam Shaheed."

However, the Speaker intervened and called for observing a two-minute silence for those whose names were mentioned in the listed business of the House.

The Speaker then adjourned the House for the day.

Earlier, the House also condoled the death of people in Nepal earthquake.

Normally, when the House takes up the matter to pay condolence to those who passed away between two sessions, besides Speaker, Leader of the House and LoP, other Legislature party leaders too express condolences on behalf of their respective parties, but today the practice was not followed as Opposition raised the issue of deaths related to the Vyapam scam.