The Congress Government on Friday came under fierce attack from opposition BJP after it informed the Himachal Pradesh Assembly that 15 Panchayat representatives were suspended while service of three were terminated, since the new Government took charge, forcing adjournment of House for 15 minutes.
Participating in the discussions in the Zero Hour, former Rural Development Minister and BJP MlA Jai Ram Thakur wanted to know as to how many panchayat representative services were terminated or suspended since January 1 to July 31.
In a written reply, Rural Development Minister Anil Sharma informed the House that 15 Panchayat representatives were suspended in different districts while services of three were terminated under different sections of Panchayati Raj Act, 1994.
Thakur flashed a notification issued by the State Government under signed by a Joint Secretary rank officer of Rural Development department asking the Deputy Commissioners to give the political affiliations details of Panchayat representatives.
Rural Development Minister tried to clarify amid sloganeering from opposition MlAs that such notification was withdrawn immediately after it was brought to notice. “By the time you withdrew the notification, your department had received all the details,” added Thakur.
This statement of Thakur was supported by other BJP MlAs who shouted shame-shame leading to chaos in the House with Opposition MlAs standing on their chair with Pamphlets saying that “Adla-Badli Sarkar Nahin Chalegi” (Government involved in transfer-posting will not carry on).
Opposition MlAs started shouting slogans against the Government during which Speaker Brij Biharilal Butail tried to pacify the agitating MlAs but all went in vain. Amid commotion in the House, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh tried to reply in the House alleging that it was the BJP Government during which Panchayat representatives were targeted not the Congress Government. “A notification was indeed issued by district Panchayat officer and after warning to him, it was withdrawn immediately,” said Singh.
Opposition MlA without paying any heed to the chief minister statement walked out from the house, when the Question Hour was in progress, after which the Speaker adjourned the house for 15 minutes.