The first day of the Monsoon Session of Himachal Pradesh Assembly was marked by protests by Opposition BJP which did not allow the House to take up routine business as it wanted a discussion on deteriorating law and order situation in the State.
The day was adjourned by Speaker Brij Bihari lal Butail, after protest by BJP members in the House, soon after the obituary references. Amid pandemonium, the proceedings on the first day could last barely one hour before the Speaker adjourned the proceedings for Wednesday.
As the session began, the members passed obituary reference for former legislator Sadanand Chauhan and 47 victims of the Jogindernagar land slide tragedy.
As the Speaker asked the members to take up Question Hour, BJP chief whip Suresh Bhardwaj and party legislator Raviinder Singh Ravi sought the ruling of chair on their adjournment motion under rule 67.
Speaker Butail tried to prevail over the Opposition, saying that the motion was still under his consideration and he had sought reply of government for taking a decision on the motion. Dissatisfied with the reply, demanding suspension of all the scheduled business, the opposition leaders raised the issue of Kotkhai gang rape and demanded discussion on the law and order situation first.
Intervening in the hot debate, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mukesh Agnihotri said that Speaker should not allow the discussion on the sub-judice matter as it was pending before the Himachal Pradesh High Court.
Revenue Minister Kaul Singh Thakur pointed out that BJP also sought discussion under rule 130 on the massive loss of lives and property during the Monsoon rains was also an equally important issue. He said the Government was not running away from discussion and was ready to discuss all issues of law and order, however, opposition should not insist on adjournment.
In an attempt to pacify the BJP members, Butail said the Opposition should wait for the outcome of CBI probe on the Kotkhai gang rape and murder case. leader of Opposition, Prem Kumar Dhumal also insisted that Speaker should allow the discussion suspending all business as law and order situation had almost crippled in the State under Congress rule.
He suggested that the issue of law and order situation was fit to be raised under rule 67 as issue of Kotkhai gang rape and murder case, mysterious demise of forest guard and similar other issues demand explanation to public representatives in the house.
Accusing the State Government of evading the issue, Dhumal said media was reporting the issue and the court had taken cognizance of the matter but the Government was running away from discussion in the house.
Butail said he did not have sufficient material on the record to allow the adjournment motion, moreover, he would consider it after having a reply from the Government.
Dhumal said the ruling party and the Speaker were not trying to understand the sensitivity of issues despite opposition producing sufficient material to seek discussion.
The Speaker again tried to start a regular business but BJP members did not allow the House to go on and started raising slogans. As BJP members came to the Well of the house raising slogans, Speaker adjourned the proceedings for Wednesday.