My conduct has always been impartial, strictly as per rules of House: Himachal Speaker Kuldeep Pathania

Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kuldeep Pathania today said his conduct inside the Assembly has been impartial and strictly as per rules of the House.

Addressing the sentiments and grouse of the Opposition of not being given a fair chance inside the House, Pathania said he was grateful to the electorate of his constituency who have made him victorious for the fifth time. “We all contest elections and utterances are made to get political mileage like most leaders also do. These are all ‘jumlas’ and at that time these utterances were made by me to lift the morale of Congress cadres,” he remarked.

“In a democracy, the role of the Opposition is far more important than the ruling as they have to highlight public issues and shortcomings. Questions of LoP have been listed and taken up on priority,” he said. “We all have full faith in democracy and I am a person who believes in the principle of convince or get convinced,” he said.

The Speaker said the confrontation must end as nobody needs to prove to the other that he is correct. “As far as yesterday’s events are concerned it is true that Vipin Parmar sought Point of Order but I disallowed and there was ruckus in the House. Rule 67 should have been primary but that became secondary, which is a matter of record,” he elaborated.

Pathania said the Opposition gave notice under Rule 274 which says notice of resolution for removal of Speaker or Deputy Speaker. “My secretariat has received resolution signed by 24 MLAs which can be taken up within 14 days of the receipt of the resolution. Session is till September 9 so 14-day notice cannot be done,” he said.

“Reasons for seeking removal of the Speaker must be cited but your notice had ironical expressions, imputations and defamatory references so I have rejected it,” said Pathaina giving his ruling. He added that new conventions are being laid but he has acted very impartially in all the last six sessions.

He, however, said if the sentiments of the Opposition have been hurt, he will clarify before the media as to what he said outside the House. “I have never ever acted against rules during the conduct of the House,” said Pathania.