BJP, BSP Create Pandemonium in Parliament over Bundelkhand Issue

Over reports of setting up of a separate Bundelkhand Development Authority, the BJP and BSP created pandemonium in Rajya Sabha, thus forcing the government to assure that the federal character of the country will be ensured.

“There is no proposal before the government which will alter the federal character of the country,” Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Prithviraj Chavan told the Rajya Sabha during Zero Hour after the House saw pandemonium over the issue leading to adjournment of the question hour.

While in the Lok Sabha, BJP deputy leader Sushma Swaraj said that without consulting Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh government on issue, the move reeks of disrespect to the federal character of the country. Later, house was adjourned for the day on the issue.

Question Hours in both the Houses were adjourned following din and slogan-shouting.

Normalcy was restored in the Upper House after the government statement. However, the statement did not make specific reference to creation of the board for development of a backward area which falls in both the states.

Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh last week seeking a Rs 8,000 crore package for Bundelkhand and creation of a board for development of the area.