Dharamsala MLA requests Speaker to admit privilege motion against Shimla SSP

The hostility between Dharamsala MLA Sudhir Sharma and Shimla SSP Sanjeev Gandhi escalated further as the former wrote to the Vidhan Sabha Speaker to admit a privilege motion against the officer for making derogatory and threatening remarks against him.

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The duo have already filed criminal defamation cases against each other in the aftermath of the Himachal High Court’s order handing over the Vimal Negi death case to the CBI. Sharma had at a press conference held two days ago responded to the allegations levelled by the SSP, who accused him of being the mastermind behind six Congress MLAs defecting to the BJP after the Rajya Sabha election.

“Gandhi during a press conference made derogatory, baseless and threatening remarks against me in his official capacity. These statements were not only defamatory in nature but also an affront to my dignity as a duly elected representative of people and a member of this esteemed House,” he wrote to Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania while urging him to admit the privilege motion against the SSP.

Sharma, a former minister in the Virbhadra government, said that Gandhi’s conduct amounted to unwarranted interference in the discharge of his legislative functions and undermining the authority and sanctity of the Vidhan Sabha. “Such remarks by a police officer are not only highly unbecoming of his position but also constitute a direct breach of privilege and contempt of the legislature,” he wrote.

He requested the Speaker to admit the privilege motion against Gandhi and take action as per the procedure and rules of the House. He also attached a transcript of the press conference and the media clippings to substantiate his allegations.

Sharma had shared a video clip of the High Court proceedings in the Vimal Negi case where Gandhi was pulled up for making remarks against the DGP. Gandhi had in the press conference hit out at Sharma stating that he was behind the defection of six Congress MLAs to the BJP in February 2024.