Swine flu situation in state not in nature of emergency: Gujarat speaker

Rejects Congress demand for discussion on H1N1 infections in state which has claimed over hundred lives

The Gujarat assembly speaker Vaju Vala on Thursday rejected demand of the opposition Congress seeking discussion on swine flu deaths in the state on the grounds that the situation was not in nature of an emergency.

Swine flu has claimed over hundred lives till date since beginning of January and as many as 125 people are under treatment for H1N1 infections in various hospitals of the state. According to figures provided by state health department there have been on an average 3-4 deaths due to swine flu in the last couple of weeks.

On Thursday, after the completion of the question hour Congress legislators Tejshree Patel, Bavku Ungadh and Anil Joshiyara had moved a motion under rule 108 of the assembly requesting adjournment of the session for discussion on increasing number of swine flu deaths in the state.

Patel said that over 100 persons have died due to siwne flu in the state and the situation had become very serious. She said that the situation calls for a discussion in the house where the government needed to answer on what it intends to do to handle the situation.

Speaker Vaju Vala however turned down the request saying that a short discussion was already held in the house soon after the assembly session began in mid February. "The matter of swine flu in state has already been discussed in the house so there is no need for discussion again. Also, the adjournment sought by the members under rule 108 is for any kind of emergency situation like an accident, bomb blast or some other incident," Vala said.

"The swine flu situation in state in not in nature of emergency and thus the motion is rejected," the speaker said amidst uproar by the Congress MLAs.

Leader of the opposition Shankarsinh Vaghela and Congress chief whip Balwant Rajput tried to persuade the speaker saying that the when the earlier discussion had taken place only 6-7 persons had died, but now the situation has aggravated and number of deaths has crossed 100 mark.

But, Vala did not change his decision of rejecting the motion moved by the Congress MLAs. Following this Congress legislators walked out of the house in protest. However, some of them returned to the house as they had registered their name for discussion on the budgetary provisions of the agriculture and cooperation department.

Coming out of the house, Patel said,"The ruling party does not want to discuss important issues in the house as it would put them in a fix. By avoiding such issues they are acting against the democratic process of our system."