Oppn for early debate on role of Goa, Manipur governors
NEW DELHI: The Congress on Monday demanded that the Rajya Sabha should expeditiously take up its substantive motion on the conduct of the governors of Goa and Manipur in not calling the single largest party to form the government after the elections.
Congress leader Digvijaya Singh said he has moved a substantive motion under the rule 168 on the conduct of governors and wanted to know why there was a delay in taking it up.
Deputy chairman P J Kurien’s assurance that it is “under consideration” did not placate the Congress side, which accused the BJP of conducting a “theft” and a “murder of democracy” by forcefully forming governments in both the states, despite not having the numbers.
“The conduct of the governors has gone against the established practice and constitutional propriety,” said Singh.
Singh had on Friday moved a notice under rule 267 seeking suspension of business to discuss the happenings in Goa but the chair had ruled that the conduct of governor can only be discussed under a substantive motion.
Sharad Yadav (JD-U) also supported the demand for early consideration of the motion saying an impression has been given that when the issue first figured in the House on Thursday and Friday, it would be taken up on Monday.
The Congress also sought to corner the BJP government by raising the issue of farmers’ suicide in Maharashtra. Pramod Tiwari said the BJP government’s failure to fulfil its promise of waving off farm loans has led to 117 farmers committing suicide in Maharashtra alone.
The deaths, he said, were not a result of drought, but on account of their produce not getting the right price and the hardships caused by demonetisation.
Tiwari said farmers in Uttar Pradesh were promised their loans will be waived off at the first meeting of the cabinet if the BJP comes to power in the state, but no such decision was taken.
His party colleague Rajni Patil also spoke about the plight of drought-affected farmers in Maharashtra and demanded that the Centre should waive off farmers’ loans in the country.