Latest news with #UmangSinghar
The Hindu
a day ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Congress MLAs play flute before ‘buffalo' in unique protest at M.P. Assembly; Speaker asks ministers to give direct answers
The Congress MLAs on Tuesday (July 29, 2025) staged a protest on the Legislative Assembly's premises, during the ongoing Monsoon Session, by playing flutes before symbolic buffaloes while accusing the Madhya Pradesh Government of silence over various issues of public importance. Led by Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar, the Congress MLAs enacted the popular Hindi saying 'bhains ke aage been bajana (playing flute before a buffalo)' which means that there is no point of saying anything to someone who won't do anything about it. Speaking to the reporters, Mr. Singhar accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government of being 'completely insensitive' towards the public's issues like unemployment, farmers' distress and 27 percent reservation for the State's Other Backward Classes (OBC). 'A government as inactive as a buffalo! The government has now become completely insensitive. Just as a buffalo neither listens nor reacts when a flute is played in front of it, similarly, this BJP government remains silent on the serious and public-interest issues raised by the opposition,' the Congress leader said, while other MLAs played flutes before two persons dressed as buffaloes. 'People are struggling with inflation, the government does not want to give jobs to the youth, it does not tell when the State will receive investment, farmers are not getting fertilizers. We have played the flute [sought answers] about these issues but the government rejects them and is sitting with its eyes closed. It does not listen, speak, or find a solution,' he added. As part of a strategy devised during a recently held two-day training camp for party MLAs, the Congress legislators are demonstrating in unique ways in the Assembly. Earlier on Monday on the opening day of the Session, the MLAs displayed toy chameleons and accused the Government of 'changing colours or its stance' on issues. Meanwhile, Assembly Speaker Narendra Singh Tomar directed the ministers to give direct answers to the questions asked in the House instead of saying that the information is being collected. Mr. Tomar's instructions came after Congress MLA Bala Bachchan complained that at least 16 questions, asked of the departments helmed by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, have received similar responses that the details are being gathered. Taking cognizance of the matter, Mr. Tomar said that he has also noticed the trend. 'Instructions have been given on this matter earlier. The chief minister is sitting here. A direct answer should come,' Mr. Tomar said.
Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Cong plays ‘beens' in House protest on 'Nag Panchami'
Bhopal: Politics took a theatrical turn in the Madhya Pradesh assembly on Tuesday as the Congress marked "Nag Panchami" with a dramatic protest, playing "beens", and accusing the BJP govt of ignoring issues being faced by the public. To counter it, Bhopal's Huzur constituency MLA Rameshwar Sharma said the Congress has "a lot of snakes in the sleeves", and has to play beens to search the snakes out. He was commenting on alleged in-fights in the opposition party. The Congress raised issues such as migration, malnutrition, unemployment, corruption and farmers' woes in the assembly. Congress MLAs led by Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar played "beens", while two persons laid down on the floor wearing buffalo masks. The Congress leaders said trying to attract govt's attention on important issues was like "bhains ke aagey been bajana (playing been in-front of buffaloes)".
The Print
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Print
MP assembly session from Monday; Cong lines up several issues to corner govt
Singhar chaired a meeting of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) on Sunday to finalise the party's strategy for the session. Bhopal, July 27 (PTI) The Congress will try to put the Madhya Pradesh government on mat on issues ranging from corruption to displacement of tribals during the monsoon session of the assembly beginning Monday, opposition leader Umang Singhar said. The Congress will raise the displacement of tribals from land and rights of Dalits, 'scams' in recruitment exams, farmers' distress, women's safety, unemployment, drug abuse, and fertiliser shortage in the House. The party will also demand restoring the 27 per cent OBC reservation by lifting the 13 per cent cap, he added. Singhar told legislators that corruption peaked under the BJP government. The list of scams is growing, but instead of taking action, the government is trying to suppress the voice of the opposition, filing false cases and diverting people's attention from issues concerning them, a party statement said. Congress Working Committee member Kamleshwar Patel, Deputy Leader of Opposition Hemant Katare and senior legislators attended the meeting. PTI LAL NSK This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Cong set to corner govt as assembly monsoon session begins on Monday
Bhopal: The 12-day monsoon session of the MP assembly begins on Monday, and is likely to witness sharp exchanges, with the Congress gearing up to corner the Mohan Yadav govt on a range of issues -- from law and order and corruption to financial distress. The 12-day session will have 10 meetings. Three bills and a supplementary Budget will also be tabled during the session. Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar convened a meeting of party MLAs on the eve of commencement of the monsoon session to discuss issues to be raised and prepare a strategy with his fellow MLAs on effectively cornering the state govt on key issues. Following the meeting, Singhar said the issues like corruption in recruitment exams conducted by departments and agencies of the state govt, dispossessing tribals from the land in their possession, blatant corruption prevalent in the state, drugs abuse on the rise among youths and involvement of persons allegedly affiliated to the BJP in drugs supply, early recruitment on vacant posts, caste census in a transparent and time-bound manner and raising the OBC reservation to 27 percent are some more issues identified in the meeting on which the Congress MLAs will prominently raise during the session. The govt, on the other hand, will try to turn the tables on the Opposition citing its achievements particularly efforts of the chief minister to attract investment in the state receiving overwhelming response both in the country and abroad, which shall not only bring hefty industrial investment in the state but also create thousands of jobs, plans afoot to promote use of solar power among farmers, new medical colleges coming up, MP Sri Air Ambulance scheme for critically ill patients, procurement of summer moong from the farmers and welfare schemes being run by the state government to reach out to the poor and the needy. The principal secretary, Vidhan Sabha, AP Singh said the House would transact a lot of business during its 10 sittings. The assembly secretariat has, so far, received 3377 questions from the members, 226 call attention motions, one notice for adjournment motion and detained discussion under section 139 and 23 private members' Bill. The state government will present three Bills in the House and a supplementary budget will also be presented during the session. The assembly speaker Narendra Tomar inspected the assembly building on Sunday to take stock of preparedness for the monsoon session. When asked by media persons present on the occasion about his circular banning protests and sloganeering in the assembly premises, he said "It's nothing new". The Congress had criticised the circular saying it's an attempt to suppress the voice of dissent.
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Madhya Pradesh bans protests, slogans in state assembly. Here's why
With the Madhya Pradesh Assembly set to convene on Monday, a political storm has already erupted over Speaker Narendra Tomar's new directive banning protests, slogan-shouting, and symbolic demonstrations within the legislature complex. The move is intended to maintain decorum and ensure that healthy debates take place in the Madhya Pradesh assembly.(PTI) The move that, as per the Secretariat, aims to maintain decorum, has triggered fierce backlash from the opposition Congress, which is calling the directive "authoritarian." "This is a murder of democracy. The government is neither allowing assembly proceedings to be broadcast live, nor permitting protests, and now even banning slogan-shouting," Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar said in a X post. The directive, issued under Standing Order 94(2), prohibits symbolic displays, including masks, props, placards, horns, and even gestures seen as disruptive. Move aims to curb theatrics? In the last few sessions, Congress turned the Assembly into a dramatic platform for protest. Black masks symbolising government secrecy, fake snakes coiled around demands for jobs, skeleton costumes to decry corruption, and gold bricks waved as a critique of alleged scams — the visuals were striking and often made headlines. A lone BAP Party MLA even staged a fast at the feet of Gandhi's statue, drawing inspiration from the Mahatma himself. But according to the new directive, all of that is now off-limits. Assembly principal secretary A P Singh told PTI that a circular containing the standing instruction was issued about a week ago. It was intended to maintain decorum and ensure that healthy debates take place in the House and nobody gets hindered from attending the proceedings, he said. Opposition demands accountability LoP Singhar pointed to Article 194 of the Constitution, which guarantees state legislators the freedom to raise public concerns, speak freely in the House, and demand accountability. "Instead of encouraging transparency, like broadcasting Assembly proceedings live, the Speaker, under the government's pressure, is now preventing legislators from even raising public issues," said Singhar. "Article 194 of the Constitution grants special powers to legislators, allowing them to raise matters of public interest in the House, express their views, and seek answers from the government," he added. Hemant Katare, Deputy Leader of the Opposition, went further, calling the directive "authoritarian" and a deliberate attempt to shield the BJP-led government from scrutiny. "The government presents fabricated data in the Assembly. These new rules are a way to avoid being exposed," Katare said. BJP's stance BJP MLA and former Protem Speaker Rameshwar Sharma defended the order, saying the Assembly was meant for serious constitutional discussion, not for "wrestling and chaos." He said that protests belong in places like Roshanpura or Dussehra grounds, not the Assembly. "The House is not a theatre," he added. (with PTI inputs)
