In a sudden turn of events, the deadlock between the Opposition and Treasury Benches over debate on adjournment motion pertaining to corruption charges was resolved on Tuesday with Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh withdrawing his remarks calling leader of Opposition Prem Kumar Dhumal a muscleman and dictator.
The Chief Minister said that he did not meant what is being perceived and his statements were taken by the media in wrong context. “I had said ‘Muscleman’ but it was taken in a wrong way. I meant with the word that people like muscleman should not be allowed to take the democracy hostage,” said Singh.
“I meant in bigger context and did not refer the word to you,” clarified the Chief Minister to leader of Opposition. “I and you are from the same species, how I can say such words to you,” added the Chief Minister.
Virbhadra Singh’s clarification came when Dhumal asked him to withdraw his statement in the House calling him a ‘muscleman’ and ‘dictator’. The Chief Minister had called Dhumal a muscleman on Monday after the House was disrupted by Opposition and leader of Opposition had announced that the House will not be allowed to work unless debate on corruption charges is allowed.
The Opposition accepted the contentions of the Chief Minister and the Speaker Brij Biharilal Butail asked for resumption of Question Hour.
On Tuesday morning, when the meeting of BJP legislators was underway at the Assembly premises, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mukesh Agnihotri, as an emissary of Chief Minister reached out to them.
Agnihotri conveyed the message that the CM wants to talk to the Opposition leaders to which BJP legislators conveyed to him that unless Chief Minister retracts his statement of calling leader of Opposition, a muscleman in the House, no truce could be brokered.
BJP legislators Ravinder Ravi and Suresh Bhardwaj went to meet the Chief Minister in his cabin and conveyed that Opposition will only allow the House to work after Virbhadra Singh takes back his statement.