Ruling SP MLA Arif Anwar Hashmi was today left fuming after he was asked to sit in the audience by officials during a state function and said he would demand privilege action, prompting Jails Minister Raghuraj Pratap Singh to offer a public apology.
At a function at jail premises here, Minister for zoological gardens S.P Yadav and home secretary Madhukar
Dewidi were sitting on the dais besides Singh.
As Hashmi, MLA from Utraula, tried to take a seat on the dias, he was stopped by officials and local leaders, forcing
him to take the seat in the audience.
However, an annoyed Hashmi threatened to raise the issued in the Assembly and alleged breach of privilege.
Singh offered a public apology and urged him to return to the dais, but Hashmi did not heed his request.
Addressed the meeting, he said the incident was “an attack on democracy and showed growing influence of the
bureaucracy”.
————————-PTI