Bhopal: Peeved at pruning of security to him, Madhya Pradesh Assembly speaker N P Prajapati Tuesday deputed the Assemblys security personnel as guards at his residence.
The opposition BJP claimed partial withdrawal of security to Prajapati was a result of “intense infighting” in the ruling Congress on whose ticket he was elected to the Assembly.
However, Home Minister Bala Bachchan said the government will soon upgrade Prajapati’s security.
Bachchan said he has already spoken to Chief Minister Kamal Nath and Prajapati over the issue.
As the model code of conduct for the Lok Sabha polls came into force on March 10, the state government had reduced security to the Speaker, particularly at his residence, which was left without any guard, his associate said.
This did not go down well with the Speaker, who wrote a letter to Principal Secretary, Home Department, a fortnight ago, asking why his security has been reduced, he added.
The Speaker had asked the Home Department for redeployment of security personnel alloted to him, the associate said.
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After the poll code was lifted two days ago, the Speaker deputed Assembly security personnel to guard him, he said.
When contacted, Prajapati declined to comment over the issue.
“Ask the MP home minister about it,” he said.
Bachchan told PTI that Prajapatis security will be upgraded soon and he has spoken to Nath about it.
The issue would be resolved in twothree days, said the home minister.
Prajapati was elected to the Assembly from Gotegaon in Narsinghpur district on a Congress ticket last year.
MP Assembly Security Director J K Sharma said two security guards and as many watchmen of the Assembly have been deputed at the speakers residence.
“On the Speakers direction, the assembly guards and watchmen have been temporarily stationed at his house,” said Sharma.
Meanwhile, MP BJP spokesman Rajnish Agrawal said the development was a fall out of “intense infighting” in the Congress after its disastrous showing in the Lok Sabha elections.
“This weak government will fall on its own, he said, adding “Now some MLAs are mounting pressure on the government to become ministers.”
Leader of Opposition Gopal Bhargava of the BJP on May 20 wrote a letter to Governor Anandiben Pael, requesting her to convene a special session of the assembly to discuss the problems faced by the state.
According to Bhargava, they will seek division (voting) on financial matters in the House.
If the Congress-led government fails to scrape through, it will collapse, he had said on Monday.
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