New Delhi, Aug 17 (IANS) Allegations of a Delhi minister’s bid to influence a resort’s tax survey, the price rise and the spurt in dengue cases in the capital dominated Wednesday’s proceedings in the Delhi assembly.
As the question hour ended at 3 p.m., the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members got up from their seats to complain against Public Works Department Minister Raj Kumar Chauhan’s alleged bid to shield the resort.
There are allegations that Chauhan tried to influence a tax survey of the Tivoli Garden resort in south Delhi.
On Tuesday, Chauhan had accepted that he interfered in the resort’s matter my making a recommendation. He also made some remarks about BJP leaders that the speaker expunged.
Raising the issue Wednesday, opposition leader V.K. Malhotra said a minister is an executive authority and his is not a recommendation but an order.
‘So, Chauhan is guilty and Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit should interfere in the matter instead of shielding him,’ he said.
After the issue was raised, Speaker Yoganand Shastri expunged Chauhan’s comment on BJP leaders.
The oppostion also raised the issue of rising dengue and swine flu cases in the city.
A verbal duel between the treasury and opposition bencehes followed Health Minister Kiran Walia’s statement blaming the BJP-ruled Municipal Corporation of Delhi for its inability to check mosquito breeding.
Initiating the debate on price rise, BJP leader Harsh Vardhan accused the Congress government of failing to control spiraling food prices.
He compared food prices in the country with that of foreign countries and said it was high in India.
Targeting the Delhi government, he said, there are 62 types of taxes in the capital where taxes are more on food items than luxury items like gold jewellery.
Anil Bhardwaj of the Congress said the Delhi government has tried to keep the inflation rate down by distributing essential items on low prices.
Later, speaking to reporters, Food and Supplies Minister Haroon Yusuf said Delhi government has always tried to support the middle class and the poor by providing essential items at low prices.
Dikshit also said that prices are high, but at the same time maintained that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee were doing their best to curb it.
