Furore in U.P. House over "NRHM scam," killing of CMOs

The Hindu A file picture of Uttar Pradesh Assembly in Lucknow. Photo: Subir Roy.

The Opposition in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly on Monday walked out over the “scam” in the implementation of the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) and the killing of two Chief Medical Officers (CMOs) and a deputy CMO. 

The Opposition parties earlier pressed for a debate on the issues and demanded action against the guilty.

Raising the issue during zero hour, Leader of the Opposition Shivpal Singh Yadav alleged that Rs. 5,000 crore was involved in the NRHM scam. He claimed that the murder of CMOs of the Family Welfare Department V.K. Maurya and B.P. Singh and the mysterious death of Deputy CMO V.S. Sachan were linked to the scandal.

Demanding Chief Minister Mayawati's resignation, he said she should have quit on moral grounds when the deputy CMO was murdered in jail as the Prisons Department was held by her.

“The Chief Minister also held the charge of the Family Welfare Department for two years.”

The State government did not follow the Centre's guidelines on the NRHM, the Opposition leader alleged.

“Government playing with health of poor”

Satish Mahana (BJP) accused the government of deceiving the poor and playing with their health. He alleged that the NRHM scam extended up to the highest level. Demanding a CBI inquiry into the NRHM implementation in the State, Pramod Tiwari (Congress) said the funds were not spent on patients. The NRHM loot and the murders were inter-linked, he alleged.

Kokab Hameed (Rashtriya Lok Dal) said 60 to 70 per cent population lived in the rural areas and demanded a CBI probe into the NRHM implementation.

Not satisfied with Parliamentary Affairs Minister Lalji Verma's reply that the Opposition should introspect, members of the Samajwadi Party, the BJP, the Congress and the RLD staged the walkout.

Uproar over Yadav's presence in House

The House witnessed uproarious scenes when SP members stormed the well over Speaker Sukhdev Rajbhar's refusal to hear a notice on the presence of Animal Husbandry Minister Avadhpal Singh Yadav in the Assembly. The Speaker said when he had rejected the notice there was no point in discussing it.

Ambika Chaudhary (SP) objected to Mr. Yadav's presence as the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Etah, had ordered the police to file a case against him in connection with the murder of a jeweller and his kin. As the din continued, the House was adjourned for 30 minutes.

Tax on diesel

Question hour also witnessed walkouts by the Congress and the BJP over the tax on diesel.

The parties said that while diesel was being sold at a lower price in Haryana, Delhi and Bihar, in Uttar Pradesh it was costly.

When the Trade Tax and Urban Development Minister Nakul Dubey failed to give a convincing reply, Congress MLAs staged a walkout. The BJP too followed suit.

Polythene bags

There was a spat between SP members and Mr. Lalji Verma after Mohammad Azam Khan's (SP) query on how many polythene manufacturing units were ‘challaned' and how many people were booked drew no response from the Urban Development Minister. The Speaker intervened and asked Mr. Dubey to give a specific reply to Mr. Khan's query.

Mr. Dubey said a campaign had been launched against the use of polythene bags.