Dehradun, Mar 15 (PTI) The Rishikesh housing scandal today rocked Uttarakhand assembly as Congress MPs demanding a CBI inquiry into the issue disrupted proceedings in the House.
The issue was raised by Congress member Dinesh Agarwal during the zero hour along with other party members, who trooped into the Well of the House asking the BJP government to hold immediate discussion on the housing project which was last year cancelled by the High Court.
After cancelling the project, the Court had ordered the government to hold an inquiry on the role of some officials who, it said, had misled the government on the project.
Accordingly, the government had appointed retired High Court judge B C Kandpal to investigate the matter.
The District Magistrate of Dehra Dun has taken back the possession of over 50.47 acres of land belonging to Citurgia Biochemicals at Rishikesh where Sturdia, a real estate developer, was constructing the housing project in violation of laws.
The Congress members made a vociferous demand for handing over the probe to the CBI saying they have no faith in Justice Kandpal, who was heading the commission to investigate 56 alleged scandals during the previous Congress government.
"The High Court wants to know the role played by some officials in handing over the prime industrial land to a real estate developer," Agarwal said.
"But by handing over the inquiry to Justice Kandpal, who is taking benefit from the government, the intention of the government to expose the officials becomes doubtful," the Congress MLA said.
Following uproar over the issue, Speaker Harbans Kapoor adjourned the house till 1500 hours and then again till 1530 and 1630 hours.
Meanwhile, scores of Congress workers today held a rally here to protest against the state government''s alleged failure on all fronts.
The party workers led by state PCC President Yashpal Arya and Leader of the opposition Harak Singh Rawat assembled at Gandhi park and shouted slogans against the state government.
Union Minister of State for Agriculture Harish Rawat besides four other Lok Sabha MPs also attended the rally.
Addressing the rally, Rawat criticised the government for failing to utilisee funds meant for centrally funded schemes.
The rally was scheduled to culminate at Vidhan Sabha but police stopped the protesters a few meters away from the building by putting up barricades.
This is the second rally of Congress within three days where party leaders have put up a united face.
The issue was raised by Congress member Dinesh Agarwal during the zero hour along with other party members, who trooped into the Well of the House asking the BJP government to hold immediate discussion on the housing project which was last year cancelled by the High Court.
After cancelling the project, the Court had ordered the government to hold an inquiry on the role of some officials who, it said, had misled the government on the project.
Accordingly, the government had appointed retired High Court judge B C Kandpal to investigate the matter.
The District Magistrate of Dehra Dun has taken back the possession of over 50.47 acres of land belonging to Citurgia Biochemicals at Rishikesh where Sturdia, a real estate developer, was constructing the housing project in violation of laws.
The Congress members made a vociferous demand for handing over the probe to the CBI saying they have no faith in Justice Kandpal, who was heading the commission to investigate 56 alleged scandals during the previous Congress government.
"The High Court wants to know the role played by some officials in handing over the prime industrial land to a real estate developer," Agarwal said.
"But by handing over the inquiry to Justice Kandpal, who is taking benefit from the government, the intention of the government to expose the officials becomes doubtful," the Congress MLA said.
Following uproar over the issue, Speaker Harbans Kapoor adjourned the house till 1500 hours and then again till 1530 and 1630 hours.
Meanwhile, scores of Congress workers today held a rally here to protest against the state government''s alleged failure on all fronts.
The party workers led by state PCC President Yashpal Arya and Leader of the opposition Harak Singh Rawat assembled at Gandhi park and shouted slogans against the state government.
Union Minister of State for Agriculture Harish Rawat besides four other Lok Sabha MPs also attended the rally.
Addressing the rally, Rawat criticised the government for failing to utilisee funds meant for centrally funded schemes.
The rally was scheduled to culminate at Vidhan Sabha but police stopped the protesters a few meters away from the building by putting up barricades.
This is the second rally of Congress within three days where party leaders have put up a united face.
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