JOIN USOppn stalls U'khand House over hike in sugarcane freight rates
Opposition BJP on Thursday created a ruckus in Uttarakhand Assembly over the hike in freight rates for sugarcane, forcing adjournment of the House for the day.
The State Assembly witnessed din in the House soon after the Question Hour as BJP members led by leader of opposition Ajay Bhatt rose from their seats alleging that the recently announced state advised price (SAP) for sugarcane was just an eyewash as the freight rates for sugarcane had also been raised.
Financial strain
Opposition accused the state government of handing a sop to farmers on the one hand and burning a hole in their pocket on the other.
BJP MLAs including Madan Kaushik, Banshidhar Bhagat and Prem Agarwal stormed the well of the House, shouting anti-government slogans.
Opposition members demanded a rollback of the hike in freight rates for sugarcane if the state government really wanted to benefit farmers.
When repeated appeals by Speaker Govind Singh Kunjwal to opposition MLAs to resume their seats went unheeded, the House was adjourned till 3 pm.
Adjournment
In the post lunch session the issue was raised again by Opposition MLAs who rushed into the well of the House forcing the Speaker to adjourn the House for the day.
Uttarakhand government on Tuesday fixed the SAP for normal variety sugarcane at Rs 285 per quintal and for high quality sugarcane at Rs 295 per quintal for the current crushing season.
However, just a day later the freight rates for sugarcane was revised from Rs 5.75 to Rs 11 per quintal through a government order.
Contempt of House
Opposition BJP in Uttarakhand Assembly charged chief minister Vijay Bahuguna with contempt of the House alleging he had not honoured a commitment made on the floor of the House in its last session.
The matter was raised after Question Hour in the state assembly as leader of opposition Ajay Bhatt reminded Dhumal of his promise that a committee will be set up on Nanda Raj Jat Yatra comprising MLAs representing constituencies falling on the yatra route and the leader of opposition.
Accusing the chief minister of not keeping his word and constituting the committee without him or other members on the panel, Bhatt said it was tantamount to contempt of the House.
Replying to Bhatt’s allegation, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Indira Hridayesh said the state government was ready to discuss the matter with the leader of the
opposition.