In yet another face-off with the State Government, Opposition BJP disrupted Question Hour and staged walkout for the second consecutive day from Himachal Pradesh Assembly, demanding an apology from Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh over his ‘bonded labourer’ remarks.
A day before, the Chief Minister had said that BJP MlAs are ‘bonded labourers’ of one family. The Chief Minister’s remarks had come after the walkout by Opposition during Governor Urmilla Singh’s address, protesting that the speech made no mention of corruption chargesheet against the Government. Amid ruckus in the house, Chief Minister, however, on Tuesday, denied making such remarks. The Opposition persisted with their demand of apology from Virbhadra and also waved newspaper clippings saying that insult to the elected representatives, will not be tolerated.
When the proceedings of the house started, 13 BJP MlAs entered the house wearing aprons having ‘Vakamulla’ written on them. On this, Speaker Brij Biharilal Butail warned the MlAs to take stern action against those bringing placards, banner or such material in the House. Speaker then asked for resumption of Question Hour after which opposition MlAs started sloganeering and tried to disrupt the proceedings. After the Question Hour was over, Opposition MlAs staged walkout from the house. Chief Minister then requested the Speaker to expunge the slogans if they were taken on record of the House. He added, “I condemn the act of opposition and it appears that leader of Opposition had hatched a conspiracy to not allow the House to work.”
“The language used for sloganeering against me, was highly objectionable. I challenge the Opposition to use the same language outside the House and I will drag them to court,” said the infuriated Chief Minister.
The Speaker then asked for expunging of slogans from the Assembly records and also ordered that media not to report the slogans. He further said that if similar act of bringing any publicity materials in the House is repeated then stern action will be taken against the members. “This House works on rules and rules of business clearly says that no matter which is sub-judice could be raised in the house and no publicity materials like banners, posters, placards could be brought in the House,” added Butail. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mukesh Agnihotri also condemned the act of Opposition and asked the Speaker to hold a meeting with the senior members of Opposition and if still they repeat the act, then stern action should be taken as per law.