The BJP on Monday staged a walkout in the assembly taking exception to another minister giving reply on behalf of industries minister Kawasi Lakhma during the question hour of the ongoing monsoon session.
BJP legislator Chandradev Prasad Rai had sought details of industries registered in Baloda Bazar, Bhatapara district. As forest and environment minister Mohammed Akbar rose to give reply, another BJP MLA Shivratan Sharma through a point of order objected saying the minister of the department should give the answer. Soon other BJP MLAs too joined him in the protest.
Akbar, however, tried to defend himself saying as per rules, the minister had already given intimation to the House and that it was the joint responsibility of the cabinet to reply to questions raised, so any minister could read out the reply.
Leader of the Opposition Dharamlal Kaushik said they (opposition) had cooperated with the minister (Lakhma)’s abstention during the budget session of the House but making such abstention by him a tradition was not acceptable. The minister should reply to queries raised by members as all were ready to accept the shortcomings.
Meanwhile, ruling members alleged that the opposition was showing disrespect to a tribal minister, a charge opposition members vehemently opposed. Instead, they continued to raise their demand that the minister should be present in the House.
As the minister did not turn up, the BJP legislators walked out of the House in protest.