The Congress members tried to corner the state government on the new pension scheme, shifting of National Cadet Corps (NCC) academy from Devprayag and discontinuance of the U- Health card scheme during the special session of Uttarakhand Assembly on Tuesday.

As soon as the House assembled on the day, the deputy leader of the Congress legislature party, Karan Mahra raised the issue of restoration of old pension scheme for the government employees. He wanted that the house should discuss the very important issue under the rule 310. On it, the officiating parliamentary affairs minister Madan Kaushik intervened and objected to the demand of the Congress members.

It infuriated the Congress MLAs who marched to the well of the house. The speaker then gave the direction that discussion on the issue under rule 58. Later initiating the debate, Mahra said that the employees and their unions are agitated on the new pension scheme and are on the verge of launching a massive stir.

He said that the new pension scheme started in the year 2004 has failed to meet the aspiration of the employees. Mahra said that the employees who are now retiring under the new pension scheme are finding they would get pensions as low as Rs 2000 to Rs 3000 per month.

He said that the Uttarakhand Government should restore the old pension scheme so that the future of State Government employees is not jeopardised.

 The Congress MLAs Govind Singh Kunjwal and Harish Dhami also supported the demand of Mahra. In his response, Madan Kaushik reminded that the state implemented the new pension scheme when Congress Government was in power. He said that the decision was taken in view of fiscal requirements. The minister informed that 1.40 lakh employees in the state are covered under old pension scheme while 80000 employees are covered under new pension scheme and claimed that there is parity in payment of gratuity, leave encashment and other benefits between the beneficiaries of old and new pension scheme.

The house witnessed heated debate on the issue of shifting of NCC academy from Srikot village of Devprayag. Raising the issue, Chakrata MLA, Pritam Singh said that Congress Government planned to set up NCC academy to in Devprayag and the villagers of Srikot were ready to handover 200 nali land for the purpose but the BJP Government shifted the academy to Pauri. In his response.