Chawla, sahni cross swords again

Lily

B.R
Staff member
Chandigarh March 27:

State Health Minister Laxmi Kanta Chawla and former BJP Chief Parliamentary Secretary (CPS) Jagdish Sahni had a slinging match on the floor of the House yet once again with Sahni alleging irregularities in the appointment of the Director (Ayurveda).

Much to the amusement of legislators from both side of the benches, the two continued with heated exchange for several minutes before someone else dared to intervene. After the two had traded charges for a while, Speaker Nirmal Singh Kahlon agreed to a demand for the setting up of a House committee that would probe if any rules had been flouted in the appointment.

Yesterday, Sahni had asked a question regarding the norms that had been prescribed for the appointment of the Director (Ayurveda) and if the present Director fulfilled all these qualifications. The question was postponed for today. In Question Hour, this was the second question and Sahni was obviously not satisfied with the minister’s answer, who said all was as per the rules.

Flouting the copies of the rules, Sahni questioned the appointment saying the rules had been flouted. He offered to quit if his allegations were found to be untrue. At the same time, he demanded that if he was proved right, the minister should quit. At this point, Congress legislator Sunil Jakhar got up and told the Speaker to intervene saying the precious time of the House was being wasted time and again by the two.

Since barbs did not appear to mellow down, the Speaker announced that as per the asking of the BJP legislator, a House panel would be set up, which would probe the issue. The minister was later saying that she would not be the person who would resign and Sahni would be the one who would be proved wrong and would have to go.

This was the third time that the Health Minister and Sahni have had open verbal duels. Sahni has openly alleged that there is a lot of corruption in the Health Department, much to the embarrassment of the minister and the BJP party leadership. On an earlier occasion, Sahni had tried to embarrass the minister by alleging that higher price was made in some purchases by the Health Department. The two have been on loggerheads ever since officials of the department raided a nursing home run by a relative of Sahni.

 
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