CM relents, Ravi’s suspension revoked

SHIMLA: High-voltage drama was witnessed in the Assembly today with Speaker BBL Butail ordering the suspension of five-time BJP MLA Ravinder Singh Ravi for damaging house property and finally revoking it after entire BJP Legislature Party implored Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh to show grace and magnanimity and forgive the unruly behaviour.

CM Virbhadra Singh takes the guard of honour by the police in the Vidhan Sabha in Shimla on Wednesday. Photo Amit Kanwar.

Pratibha Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, August 24

High-voltage drama was witnessed in the Assembly today with Speaker BBL Butail ordering the suspension of five-time BJP MLA Ravinder Singh Ravi for damaging house property and finally revoking it after entire BJP Legislature Party implored Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh to show grace and magnanimity and forgive the unruly behaviour.

The matter was resolved and Ravi saved from the three-day suspension for the remaining period of the monsoon session only after tendering an unconditional apology in the House.

He also agreed to bear the entire expenditure incurred on replacement of the two microphones as suggested by Virbhadra while agreeing to let off Ravi without the suspension.

It was after the repeated pleas by the opposition members to the Chief Minister to exhibit magnanimity that Virbhadra relented.

“This is your ruling Speaker Sir but now that you have put the ball in my court and I too have no objection,” he said. The Speaker adjourned the House for 10 minutes to consult both sides but it took almost close to an hour to resolve the matter and revocation of the suspension.

“I have the highest regard for the Speaker and the high traditions of this House of which I have been a member for the last 23 years but I regret that I got carried away in the heat of the moment,” he said while apologizing and thanking the Speaker for revoking the decision. There have been suspensions of MLAs in the Himachal Assembly in the past on several occasion.

As expected, the Speaker on his arrival in the House gave the verdict on the fate of Ravi, who yesterday pulled off two microphones. “I want to inform the House that considering the unruly behaviour of Ravinder Ravi, I request Ravi to leave the House for the remaining period of the session,” an announcement welcomed by treasury benches with thumping of tables.

Leader of Opposition PK Dhumal immediately stood up and said the Speaker could not adopt double standards while dealing with ruling and opposition members.

“The entire problem arose from the fact that you did not act in a fair and impartial manner. We have the highest regard for you and your ruling but then we too expect justice from you,” he said.

Dhumal said in case the Speaker and the government do not want any debate then the Opposition should be told so. Dhumal was joined by his colleagues Suresh Bhardwaj, Rajeev Bindal, Mahender Singh, Jai Ram Thakur and RR Koundal in urging the Speaker to review his decision. “In the past when a former CM had torn and thrown papers on the face of Vidhan Sabha Secretary even then such action was not taken so why such harsh decision now,” quipped Mahender Singh.

Bhardwaj, while reading out from the Vidhan Sabha rule book, pointed out that the Speaker is empowered to suspend any MLA but he can be issued a notice to be heard which is the principle of natural justice. Butail, however, said there is no such provision in rules.

Urban Development Minister Sudhir Sharma condemned Ravi’s behaviour and said not accepting the Speaker’s verdict would amount to insult of the House. “What happens in the Assembly is seen and discussed outside all over the state so we have to be very particular about our conduct,” he pointed out before the suspension was revoked.