Heated arguments lead to disruption in Jharkhand assembly

Ranchi, January 18: Jharkhand Assembly’s budget session started on Wednesday was disrupted for the day two due to a ruckus in the house as the opposition demanded the removal of the Chief Secretary and DGP in connection with treasury withdrawals in a fodder scam and an allegedly staged shootout, respectively.

The assembly speaker, however, rejected the adjournment motion. As soon as the house assembled for the day, JVM(P) MLA Pradeep Yadav demanded that chief secretary Rajbala Verma who has been accused of making misuse of power and DGP D K Pandey who deliberate mishandled the probe in Bakoria fake encounter should be removed from their posts and a CBI probe be conducted into their tenure.

"Jharkhand Parliamentary Affairs Minister Saryu Rai has himself written a letter to Chief Minister to prevent Chief Secretary from attending the cabinet meeting. The notice to Chief Secretary has been served by the constitutional body CBI," said Pradeep Yadav, a Jharkhand Vikas Morcha-Prajatantrik legislator who had brought the adjournment motion.

Echoing his view, leader of the Opposition and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Hemant Soren said: "There are examples in past that a Chief Secretary facing lesser level of charges was removed when the issue was raised in the assembly.