Ruckus in Chhattisgarh Assembly over Augusta chopper deal

Noisy scenes were witnessed in the Chhattisgarh Assembly today as Congress accused the ruling BJP government of irregularities in the purchase of an Augusta Westland helicopter in 2007and demanded a discussion.
As many as 33Congress MLAs weresuspendedafter they trooped into the well. The suspension was revoked later.
Senior Congress legislator Satyanarayan Sharma raised the issue on the last day of Monsoon session today by moving an adjournment motion notice demanding a discussion.
He alleged that the state aviation department violated the rules while buying the helicopter for Rs 26.58 crore.
Citing news reports, Leader of Opposition T S Singhdeo said Directorate General of Civil Aviation had imposed ban on long distance flights of Augusta choppers.

Serious technical snag developed in the same chopper during a recent tour of agriculture minister Brijmohan Agrawal, Singhdeo said.

State Congress chief Bhupesh Baghel alleged kickbacks were given which were deposited in a foreign bank.
Shivratan Sharma, who was in the Speaker's chair, rejected the demand for discussion. Congress legislators then started shouting slogans.
BJP MLAs responded with slogans too, causing a ruckus.
After the resumption of proceedings, Congress legislators
moved into the well of the House, demanding a discussion, which resulted in their automaticsuspensionas per the Assembly rules.
Higher education minister Premprakash Pandey said senior Congress leaders were facing the heat over the Augustachopperdeal during the UPA regime, and therefore the party was trying to divert the attention.

Subsequently, the Speaker again adjourned the House for five minutes. When the House resumed, suspension of Congresslegislators was revoked.
Speaking to reporters later, Chief Minister Raman Singh maintained that the chopper purchase was "fair and through a global tender". He also denied DGCA or the Centre banning flights of Augusta choppers.