GUWAHATI, April 2 - Congress MLA Sherman Ali Ahmed today sought to move a motion of breach of privilege against Power Minister Pallab Lochan Das over �incorrect� replies to questions posed in the Assembly.
Though Speaker Hitendra Nath Goswami permitted Ahmed to raise the issue �so that a message goes out�, the Baghbor MLA was not allowed to move the motion.
Raising the issue, Ahmed said that in separate replies to Assembly questions, Das had stated the names of seven partially electrified villages in the Baghbor LAC and two completely electrified villages.
�However, I visited the villages last week and found that electric poles were yet to be erected in these seven villages. In the other two, the tower lines were yet to be set up. Moreover, during an Assembly reply in September last, the minister had named nine villages which would be electrified by March 31 this year. That assurance, too, remains unfulfilled,� Ahmed said.
�The incorrect information is a contempt of the august House. I request you to allow me to move a motion of breach of privilege,� he urged the Speaker during the Zero Hour. He also alleged that ministers were repeatedly giving �incorrect replies� in the House.
The Speaker said every day there had been four to five instances of legislators complaining about incorrect replies to questions asked in the Assembly. �However, there is a special procedure for complaint against a member. We have to first examine if the incorrect information was given wilfully, knowingly and deliberately. I allowed you to raise the issue so that a message goes out and no such motion comes in future�but I cannot allow you to move the motion,� Goswami said.
