Bhopal, the opposition Congress in Madhya Pradesh assembly on Tuesday attacked minister Vishvas Sarang, who was medical education minister in the previous BJP government, for alleged irregularities in granting permission to set up nursing colleges in the state and demanded his resignation.
The party also demanded constitution of a joint House panel to investigate the "nursing scam" before going on strike.
Sarang dismissed the allegations as baseless and blamed the irregularities on the then Congress government, which was in power for 15 months until March 2020.
The issue was raised by Deputy Opposition Leader Hemant Katare through a recall motion.
Katare, Jaivardhan Singh and opposition leader Umang Singhar, among others, alleged that during Sarang's tenure as medical education minister, many irregularities took place and norms were violated in granting permission to nursing colleges.
Jaivardhan alleged that at Sarang's behest, many colleges were granted permission even though they were not eligible, and tried to produce some letters and documents to prove his point.
The owner of one of those universities was in prison after irregularities came to light, he said.
Congress MP Bhanwar Singh Shekhawat, former BJP leader, said the entire system, including officials and employees from top to bottom, is involved in such scams, but only public representatives are blamed.
Citing the example of late former minister Laxmikant Sharma, Shekhawat said that in the Vyapam exams scam no action was taken against any senior official except Sharma.
Shekhawat also blamed the former minister and some others who were not members of the house for the nursing scam.
Legislative Affairs Minister Kailash Vijaywargiya raised a strong objection and got his comments removed from the proceedings amid heated exchanges with opposition members.
Responding point by point to the allegations, Sarang, now Minister of Sports and Youth Welfare, said the CBI probing the scam has termed many colleges as "inadequate", and of these 60 institutions, 39 were set up during the Congress regime. .
Health Minister Rajendra Shukla said the government was working to expand health services by opening new medical colleges at the district level and granting permission to new nursing colleges in view of the need for nurses and trained doctors.
A case related to the alleged scam is before the high court and the government will follow the court's directives, he added.
The opposition leader demanded that an assembly panel be constituted to investigate the scam, but the government did not accept the demand.
Dissatisfied with the minister's response, Congress members rushed to the well of the house and shouted slogans before staging a walkout.
After transacting business amid the din, President Narendra Singh Tomar adjourned the session till Wednesday.
The CBI started probing the alleged nursing scam following a Madhya Pradesh High Court order in April last year. Recently, two CBI officers were allegedly found taking bribes from nursing colleges to give them a clean chit.
The central agency has arrested a total of 13 people in scam-related cases.
The party also demanded constitution of a joint House panel to investigate the "nursing scam" before going on strike.
Sarang dismissed the allegations as baseless and blamed the irregularities on the then Congress government, which was in power for 15 months until March 2020.
The issue was raised by Deputy Opposition Leader Hemant Katare through a recall motion.
Katare, Jaivardhan Singh and opposition leader Umang Singhar, among others, alleged that during Sarang's tenure as medical education minister, many irregularities took place and norms were violated in granting permission to nursing colleges.
Jaivardhan alleged that at Sarang's behest, many colleges were granted permission even though they were not eligible, and tried to produce some letters and documents to prove his point.
The owner of one of those universities was in prison after irregularities came to light, he said.
Congress MP Bhanwar Singh Shekhawat, former BJP leader, said the entire system, including officials and employees from top to bottom, is involved in such scams, but only public representatives are blamed.
Citing the example of late former minister Laxmikant Sharma, Shekhawat said that in the Vyapam exams scam no action was taken against any senior official except Sharma.
Shekhawat also blamed the former minister and some others who were not members of the house for the nursing scam.
Legislative Affairs Minister Kailash Vijaywargiya raised a strong objection and got his comments removed from the proceedings amid heated exchanges with opposition members.
Responding point by point to the allegations, Sarang, now Minister of Sports and Youth Welfare, said the CBI probing the scam has termed many colleges as "inadequate", and of these 60 institutions, 39 were set up during the Congress regime. .
Health Minister Rajendra Shukla said the government was working to expand health services by opening new medical colleges at the district level and granting permission to new nursing colleges in view of the need for nurses and trained doctors.
A case related to the alleged scam is before the high court and the government will follow the court's directives, he added.
The opposition leader demanded that an assembly panel be constituted to investigate the scam, but the government did not accept the demand.
Dissatisfied with the minister's response, Congress members rushed to the well of the house and shouted slogans before staging a walkout.
After transacting business amid the din, President Narendra Singh Tomar adjourned the session till Wednesday.
The CBI started probing the alleged nursing scam following a Madhya Pradesh High Court order in April last year. Recently, two CBI officers were allegedly found taking bribes from nursing colleges to give them a clean chit.
The central agency has arrested a total of 13 people in scam-related cases.
