BJP resents demands discussion after walkout

Tribune News Service

Shimla, March 29

Terming it as a murder of democracy, the BJP today took great exception to taking up of demands and replies by the Chief Minister on education and the Public Works Department (PWD) in the Assembly during lunch break yesterday after they had staged a walkout.

The issue was raised in the House by BJP legislature party chief whip Suresh Bhardwaj. “We would like to register our protest against the manner in which two important cut motions on the PWD and education were taken up hastily in the absence of the Opposition, just to avoid a discussion,” he said after the question got over in the Vidhan Sabha today.

Leader of the Opposition and former Chief Minister PK Dhumal too expressed displeasure at the manner in which the House was extended to function during lunch break without the knowledge of BJP members who had staged a walkout, after the Health Minister in his reply failed to satisfy the Opposition benches. “When the ruling party has a majority in the House then why such haste was shown in taking up the demands on two of the most important departments whose functioning is a complete shambles,” said Dhumal.

“We have no fear and are willing to debate till midnight but it would have been far better if the Opposition had been more vigilant and returned for discussion, when they too were aware that the House had not been adjourned,” remarked Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh. “All I can say is that the BJP is enacting a political drama which is part of their agenda and they are not sincere about serious issues,” the CM said.

Dhumal clarified that since it was a laid-down norm that the House had lunch break at 1 pm and unless the Speaker extended the time, the BJP presumed that now there would be no discussion. “A walkout is the right of the Opposition in a democracy and presuming that now there was lunch break we did not return,” he explained.

Speaker BBL Butail too offered his explanation by stating that there had been several instances in the past when the House functioned during lunch break.