Upset over not getting an opportunity to raise issues during Question Hour in the ongoing Assembly session, a Congress legislator walked out of the house on Friday, the last day of the session.
Though Jagat Singh Negi's colleagues from the opposition Congress supported him in the house, they preferred not to accompany him when he walked out.
Negi, a former Deputy Speaker, claimed that Speaker Rajeev Bindal was not impartial and was not giving opposition members enough opportunities to take up their issues.
"I gave notice to ask 21 questions, and not even a single one was listed for discussion during this session that saw seven sittings," he said.
Claiming fairness in the conduct of the house, Speaker Bindal said that on Friday, he allotted at least 40 minutes to three postponed questions raised by the opposition.
Bindal said that the house granted permission to hold a debate under Rule 61 five times this year, as compared with none between 2014 and 2017 under it. On two occasions, the debate was held under this rule in 2013.
Similarly, maximum permissions were granted this year to hold a debate under Rules 62, 63 and 101 in six years.
Not convinced, Negi walked out in protest. Other Congress legislators stood up and initially planned to also walk out to express solidarity with Negi, but later preferred to stay back.
Two DIE, 1,588 TEST POSITIVE FOR DENGUE IN Himachal Pradesh
Two people died due to dengue and 1,588 people were tested positive with the vector-borne disease during the rainy season this year in Himachal Pradesh, Health Minister Vipin Singh Parmar informed the state Assembly.
Replying to a question raised by BJP MlA Rakesh Kumar, the health minister said Bilaspur remained the worst hit district, where 783 cases of dengue were recorded.
Solan district recorded 681 cases of dengue followed by 91 cases in Mandi and three in Sirmour, he said.
Parmar informed the House that the Health Department had taken various steps to check the spread of the disease.
Replying to a question raised by BJP MlA Arun Kumar, he said CT simulator and linear accelerator machines would soon become operational at the Radiotherapy Department in Dr Rajendra Prasad Medical College in Tanda.
According to Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) guidelines, trained medical physicist and radiotherapy technician are required for running these machines, he said, adding that these posts have been created and process has been started to appoint a medical physicist and radiotherapy technician.