Peeved at references to RSS, BJP stages walkout

Pratibha Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, March 26

Peeved at repeated reference to the RSS and Jan Sangh by Chief Parliamentary Secretary Jagjivan Pal, opposition BJP today staged a walkout during the debate on the Budget proposals for 2015-16 in the Assembly today.

The BJP legislators, including Ravinder Singh Ravi, Rajeev Bindal and Randhir Sharma, objected to repeated reference about the RSS, Jan Sangh and the fact that the BJP was a party of capitalists and industrialists.

“It is a debate on the budget proposals and not a discussion on the RSS and the BJP and as such we have decided to stage a walkout,” said Ravi. He added that Pal had made no reference to the Budget for which the debate was being held but was using the occasion to target the RSS and the Jan Sangh which was highly objectionable.

The BJP members stated a walkout while the debate was on.

Deputy Speaker Jagat Singh Negi, who was in the chair, said the BJP MLAs had themselves made references to the RSS. Therefore, the Congress legislators too had the right to comment on it.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mukesh Agnihotri said the BJP had left the House as they wanted to see India’s World Cup cricket match against Australia.

Earlier, participating in the debate, Rajiv Sehjal said the government was unleashing political vendetta against Leader of Opposition PK Dhumal and his family. He demanded that the state government must place on record in the court the observation made by the pervious Governor Urmila Singh and the present Governor Kalyan Singh concerning the Vigilance case against Dhumal.

Speaking on the Budget proposals, Ajay Mahajan of the Congress urged the BJP Legislature Party to urge the Centre to expedite the setting up of the Battalion of the National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) at Nurpur. “All the formalities have been completed and I urge the BJP to please take it up with the Centre so that in case of any calamity or disaster, immediate rescue and relief can be provided,” he said.

Bambar Thakur appreciated the pro-people welfare budget.

Vikram Jaryal and Vinod Kumar lashed out at the Congress regime for not expressing gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for enhancing the financial assistance to Himachal.

“I appreciate your commitment to open schools for even two children but atleast ensure that schools have teachers, buildings and other infrastructure,” said Vinod Kumar.