SP MLAs create ruckus as UP deputy CM Brajesh Pathak calls them 'dhongi'

LUCKNOW: The UP assembly once again witnessed uproarious scenes with SP members jumping into the well of the House after deputy CM Brajesh Pathak accused the Samajwadi Party of indulging in loot and corruption that led to poor condition of the health situation then. He was replying to SP MLA Shivpal Yadav's adjournment notice on the state of UP hospitals.
After Shivpal remarked that Pathak had been limited to conducting raids and his words were not taken seriously by officials, the deputy CM said that the situation was worse during the SP regime and even showed photocopies of the news clippings to prove the prevailing situation then. He also started showing photocopies of newspaper clippings depicting the poor state of affairs in the health department during SP rule.
However, even as senior SP leader Lalji Varma stood up requesting Speaker Satish Mahana to ask the deputy CM to stick to health scenario amid SP members' protest, Pathak continued with his statement and went on to accuse SP members of indulging in loot and even called them "dhongi" (fake). "They (SP) have nothing to do with 'samajwad' (socialism). They are 'nakli' (fake) and 'dhongi' (fake) samajwadis, who spread anarchy."
Irked over his remark, the Opposition members began raising the slogan "Chhapa mantri bhrast hai" and jumped into the well of the House. Pandemonium prevailed as the unrelenting SP members continued with sloganeering. Speaker Mahana tried to intervene and asked Pathak to take his seat and requested SP members also to go back to their seats.
Unable to pacify the SP members, the Speaker said he wouldn't adjourn the House and would move forward for discussion on the governor's address. He even said that those who are on the seat could give their discussion points on the governor's address in writing and would end the House proceeding for the day after taking up the day's business. However, the normal business resumed after 10 minutes of din.
Earlier, Shivpal, while speaking on the adjournment motion, said that the health situation in the state was on ventilator with middlemen fleecing the poor. He said the ventilators installed during Corona period are also dysfunctional and the situation is such that if anyone goes for ultrasound, he is given a date after a month.
In need of quick examination, the poor are forced to go to private ultrasound centres and pay exorbitant rates. He said despite so many raids by the deputy CM, the situation has not improved. "So helpless is the deputy CM that no official takes his order seriously and even if he gives something in writing even that is not taken seriously," he added.
Shivpal said that on Thursday, during the discussion on the Governor's address, the deputy CM said something about socialists. He also commented on the cap worn by SP members. "I never commented on BJP members who are seen wearing gamcha. Even today the Deputy CM is wearing tilak. I have never commented on such things," Shivpal said.
Intervening, the deputy CM said that if Shivpal was speaking on adjournment notice, he should stick to it. "I will also reply and then he will have to sit and listen unlike yesterday when he fled," Pathak said. The Speaker then asked Shivpal to stay on the issue following which Shivpal spoke about the health condition and said, "Chhapa mantri (raid minister) should reply."