The State Government and its Ministers faced some embarrassing moments on the second day of the Monsoon Session of the State Assembly on Wednesday when the Chair pulled up the Government for providing wrong information in the House.
The Chair directed the State Government to ensure that the Government officers furnish correct information meant to be provided to the members of the Assembly. The Speaker Prem Chand Agarwal passed the order when BJP legislator, Surendra Singh Jeena claimed that the answer provided by the Forest Minister Harak Singh Rawat that ‘Pine Resin’ is not kept in the open in the forest inspection bungalows across the State is wrong.
Flashing a photograph in the Assembly showing the highly inflammable Pine Resin kept in the open at Manila inspection bungalow, Jeena claimed that it has been lying in the open for the past three years, leaving the people living round vulnerable to fire.
A red-faced Forest Minister assured the member that he would look into the matter and take appropriate action if it is found that the department officers have provided wrong information.
Finding the State Government grappling with the aftermath of the humiliation in the hands of a ruling party lawmaker, the Opposition Congress members latched on to it with alacrity and tore into the Government for misinforming the Assembly.
They also cited previous cases of wrong information provided by the officials. The leader of the Opposition, Indira Hridayesh said that the Chair should intervene on the very serious matter and issue direction to the State Government. The Speaker admitted that the matter is serious and directed the State Government that the answers should be corrected when required.
He at the same time directed the State Government to ensure that correct information is provided in the House.
The Chair passed similar order to the Government later in the day when the issue of demolition drive was raised by the Congress members. The Speaker directed the Government to respect the order of Uttarakhand High Court and at the same time see to it that the people affected by the drive are not left with much hardships.
