Congress Accuses Madhya Pradesh Assembly of Tampering with MLA Questions in Growing Legislative Controversy

The Madhya Pradesh Assembly's winter session has erupted into a significant political controversy as Congress MLAs claim their submitted questions were altered by the Assembly Secretariat in apparent collusion with the state government. One legislator reported that even his inquiry about new Ladli Behna scheme beneficiaries was modified without consent, though government officials have firmly denied these allegations.

Former minister and Congress MLA Jaivardhan Singh encountered a similar issue previously when he received an incorrect response to his Assembly question last year. In the current session, he alleges the question itself was changed before appearing on the official list.

Singh formally protested this matter in the Assembly, stating: "I inquired on July 1, 2024, about when Raghogarh Degree College was established and what courses it offered. Despite the college having no postgraduate programs, the minister responded that MC Physics, Chemistry, and MA Politics were being taught there. My straightforward question about course offerings was answered with non-existent PG options. What procedures exist when incorrect information comes before the House? I received information about a different college entirely."

In a subsequent interview with NDTV, Singh expressed his frustration: "The Assembly has responsibility for issuing notices. We've raised this issue multiple times. The Secretariat claims departments don't respond, while departments blame the Secretariat for improper communication. Where should MLAs turn for resolution?"

The situation intensified when five Congress legislators submitted formal written complaints to the Assembly Secretariat, claiming their questions had been modified in both wording and intent, which they view as a violation of their legislative privileges.

Former Home Minister Bala Bachchan detailed his experience: "My question (No. 506) concerned crops and the implementation timeline of the Bhavantar Yojana. The response indicated it applied to cotton, maize, peanuts, and soybeans since 2017-18. However, when I inquired about procurement at support prices, everything changed. The government is manipulating questions because it wishes to avoid honest answers."

Congress MLA Mahesh Parmar shared similar concerns: "When we raise questions about public issues or corruption, they're either abbreviated or downgraded to district-level inquiries. My question regarding land pooling, which was visible on the portal, disappeared. That same night, the Chief Minister informed farmers that the Land Pooling Act had been repealed, so why was my question removed? This happens frequently. They condense answers to mere 10-20 lines, destroying their substance. The government is evading accountability, with officials complicit in this process."

Assembly questions can be submitted through either online or offline channels using prescribed formats within specified deadlines. Legislators may ask starred questions (which receive priority) or unstarred questions. The current session saw the Secretariat receive 1,497 total questions—751 starred and 746 unstarred.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya dismissed these accusations, suggesting instead that MLAs require training in formulating concise questions: "Some questions are so extensive that the information would need transportation by auto-rickshaw. If legislators ask direct questions, they'll receive direct answers."

Cabinet Minister Vishwas Sarang reinforced this position: "No questions have been altered, and the government isn't avoiding responses. When facing baseless claims, Congress attempts to save face through these accusations. Neither questions nor answers have been tampered with."

Experts on parliamentary procedure note that while lengthy questions may be condensed with the Speaker's permission and extensive answers might be limited, any modifications must preserve the original intent.

As this controversy continues to unfold, it has developed into yet another point of contention between the opposition Congress party and the BJP-led state government.