By IANS
Bhopal : Opposition legislators in Madhya Pradesh, led by the Congress, reached the assembly Monday in four dumper trucks demanding the resignation of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan over the controversial purchase of such vehicles.
Leader of Opposition Jamuna Devi and former chief minister Digvijay Singh led the protest. Police stopped them en route and allowed only one dumper to reach the assembly gate. Monday was the opening day of the winter session.
The legislators then walked into the assembly carrying placards with slogans against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government and the chief minister. They shouted slogans seeking Chouhan’s resignation on charges of corruption.
The house was later adjourned for the day after a brief sitting.
The session, resuming Tuesday, will in all likelihood have a stormy start with the Congress gearing up to stall proceedings on the dumper purchase that involves Chouhan and others.
Chouhan, his wife Sadhana Singh, Rewa’s regional transport officer and Jaypee Cement director Sunny Gaud are facing a probe after the state Lokayukta (anti-corruption cell) registered a police complaint against them on the directives of a court for alleged corruption in the purchase of four dumpers.
Though Chouhan claims that the vehicles were purchased in his wife’s name after procuring a loan from Tata Finance, the opposition wants to know why they were “registered with a fake Rewa address if there is nothing fishy”.
The opposition also plans to move a no-confidence motion, either Tuesday or Wednesday, against the BJP government.
Besides the dumper issue, other matters to be taken up against the government and on which the no-confidence would be sought include involvement of at least a dozen ministers in alleged corrupt practices, the poor condition of roads, irregular power supply and increasing law and order problems.
The Congress move, however, does not pose any threat to the stability of the government, which completes four years in office Dec 7. The ruling BJP has 168 legislators in a 230-member house.