The opposition Congress in the Chhattisgarh Assembly today vociferously demanded a CBI probe against the 'bogus' chit fund companies.
Its MLAs shouted slogans anddemanded the resignation of Chief Minister Raman Singh over the issue,forcing the Speaker Gaurishankar Agrawal toadjourn proceedings for five minutes.
Raising the issue after the question hour, senior Congress legislator and its state unit chief Bhupesh Baghel said, "On March 4, I had claimed that the Chief Minister and his cabinet colleagues attend inaugurations of bogus chit fund companies. The PWD minister Rajesh Moonat challenged me to produce documents in support of my claims and today I wanted to table some evidencein this regard."
Parliamentary affairs minister Ajay Chandrakar objected, seeking to know under which rule Baghel was raising the issue. Chandrakar also said the government was open to debate.
The Speaker then said the Congress leader had taken his permission to speak on the issue.
Moonat said he stood by his claim that the CM and the ministers never took part in the programmes of chit fund companies operating without the RBI permission.
Baghel said he wanted to table some photographs and documents to prove his claim. He also sought a probe by a committee of the House.
The Speaker rejected his demand and said the issue had already been discussed, but it can be discussed further in the House with the consent of the ruling party and the opposition.
Baghel sought the consent from the treasury benches to
constitute a House committee, but the latter did not respond.
Congress members then started shouting slogans, demanding a CBI probe against the bogus chit fund companies and resignation of the Chief Minister, not heeding Speaker's directions to sit down, so Agrawal adjourned thehouse for five minutes.
When the proceedings resumed, Leader of Opposition T S Singhdeo again demanded probe by a House committee. But Deputy Speaker Badridhar Diwan rejected the demand, saying there had been enough discussion on the issue and the proceedings should move on.
