The budget session of the Uttarakhand assembly was adjourned sine-die, due to protest from the Congress, at Bharadisain, Gairsain on Monday. The Congress was demanding discussion of Lokayukta bill in the House under Rule 310.

Speaker Prem Chand Agarwal turned down the request, which provoked the leaders to rush into the well. Due to the protest, the House was finally adjourned sine-die.

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Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat termed the budget session successful and said, “The session continued for six consecutive working days, which was a record. Many important Bills were passed and the entire session remained a working session. Everyday around 13 replies were provided by the state government in the House. “The budget session concluded two days early. Congress MLAs created ruckus in the house on Monday demanding a detailed discussion on the Lokayukta bill.

Trivendra Singh Rawat said, “The bill is now the property of the House and the Opposition has no moral right to ask questions about the Lokayukta bill. Our top priority is to run a corruption-free government. Stringent action has been taken against corrupt officials by the state government in the past one year.”

The process of implementing a strong Lokayukta bill in Uttarakhand started after the anti-graft movement of social activist Anna Hazare in 2011.

The then Uttarakhand Chief Minister Major General B.C Khanduri (Retd) took keen interest and got the bill passed in the state assembly on 2 November 2011. But the BJP failed to get the bill implemented during their term.

The Congress government was voted to power in 2012, but they showed little interest in getting it enforced and delayed proceedings by not appointing any Lokayukta.

Harish Rawat made a half-hearted attempt to get a Lokayukta appointed, but Governor K.K Paul rejected the file objecting to the candidate recommended for the post and also for not following the norms.

The Trivendra Rawat government tabled the draft of the Lokayukta bill in the state assembly in Dehradun last year. Very recently Trivendra Rawat told media that there is no need for a Lokayukta when the government is acting tough on the corrupt.

The BJP government had promised to appoint a Lokayukta within 100 days of coming to power but their promise iis far from being fulfilled.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Rawat speaking to media at Uttarakhand assembly at Bharadisain, Gairsain on Monday.