Congress has been blaming Opposition MlAs for boycotting ongoing Budget session alleging their callous approach towards the Assembly but some of its own MlAs and Ministers have been caught on wrong foot on Monday for not attending the session despite of whip issued by the party.
Congress has issued whip to its party MlAs to ensure presence of its MlAs on February 17, 18 and 19. On February 17 and 18, discussions on Budget estimates and demands were is to be held while on February 19, Budget has to be passed. Due to the absence of seven Congress MlAs and Opposition boycott of the proceedings, the Question Hour was finished in just 25 minutes and out of the 16 un-starred questions only four questions were taken up. The absentees include CM Virbhadra Singh, Health Minister Kaul Singh Thakur, Urban Development Minister Sudhir Sharma, Transport Minister GS Bali and Chief Parliamentary Secretary Rohit Thakur and other MlAs of the party were absent.
Speaker Brij Biharilal Butail was also absent on Monday and deputy speaker Jagat Singh Negi had to conduct the proceedings of the House. In the absence of any cut motion brought by the Opposition, which is staging boycott over alleged humiliating remarks of CM Virbhadra Singh on BJP MlAs, Himachal lokhit Party (HlP) MlA Maheshwar Singh had initiated the Budget debate and on Monday again Singh initiated debate on Budget estimates and demands.