The Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday walked out during Governor Urmila Singh’s address on the first day of Himachal Pradesh Assembly’s budget session, protesting that there was no mention of BJP’s corruption charge sheet in her speech.
When the Governor was about to end her address, the Opposition MlA Mahendra Singh interrupted her speech and said even though the Opposition respects the chair of the Governor, the address has no mention of chargesheet submitted to the Governor or any action being taken.
After listening to the objections of Opposition MlAs for sometime, Governor continued her address to which BJP MlAs started objecting and demanding mention of chargesheet saying serious corruption charges have been leveled against Chief Minister and Ministers, which needs to be probed.
Amidst sloganeering, BJP walked out of the house and alleged that it is a conspiracy that the chargesheet was deliberately not mentioned instead BJP Government’s achievements were mentioned as Congress Government’s achievements.
later, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh in his address in the absence of Opposition MlAs condemned the action of BJP and said that it was an act of frustration on the part of BJP.
“The disruption and walkout indicate that opposition BJP does not believe in parliamentary democracy. I hope that this act is not repeated again in the house,” said Singh.
He added that Congress when in opposition or ruling have always maintained high standard of parliamentary practices. “I request to the chair of speaker that any such act of opposition should be taken into cognisance and necessary action as per law should be taken,” said Singh.
Speaker Brij Biharilal Butail also termed the walkout of Opposition as sad affair.
“I had held all party meeting earlier in the day and they had assured of smooth running of the house but now I feel that the meeting was a futile exercise,” said Butail.
“I have always said that ample time will be given to the opposition to debate on any issue in the house and they should cooperate in smooth running of the house but unfortunately that did not happened,” said Butail.