Himachal: Protesting police action against villagers, BJP stages walkout

Tribune News Service

Shimla, February 15

The BJP today staged a walkout in the Vidhan Sabha on the issue of police action against protesting villagers and elected representatives against the coming up of Rs 7 crore drinking water scheme on Ali Khud, along the border of Bilaspur-Solan district.

FIR filed against MLA, others

• Naina Devi MLA Randhir Sharma lamented that police cases were being registered against elected representatives and people for staging a peaceful protest
• He said an FIR had been registered against him and others under various sections, which was uncalled for
• “We will take action against the contractor as to why he is continuing work despite the clear directions of the CM to stop work,” said Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan

Raising the issue through a Point of Order in the Vidhan Sabha today, Naina Devi MLA Randhir Sharma said he had given notice under Rule 62 for a debate on the issue. Speaker Kuldeep Pathania said he had received the notice which would be taken up later but as Sharma remained adamant, he was allowed to speak.

Replying to the issue, Industries Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan, who has been assigned the Jal Shakti Department in the absence of Mukesh Agnihotri, said what has happened was wrong and should have been avoided. “The government does not want that tension should prevail in any part of Himachal and it is the duty of the government to ensure peace. We will take action against the contractor as to why he is continuing work despite the clear directions of the CM to stop work,” the minister said. The dissatisfied BJP legislators raised slogans and left the House.

Sharma lamented that police cases were being registered against elected representatives and the people for staging a peaceful protest, which was totally unacceptable in a democracy. He said an FIR had been registered against him and others under various sections like dacoity and unlawful assembly, which was very wrong.

“We were stopped, lathi-charged and stone pelting was done on the protesting villagers in which I along with other villagers suffered injuries. Is it a crime to protest in a democracy,” said Randhir. “I raised the issue and despite CM constituting an inquiry committee and ordering that work should be stopped, the work continued.

“The panel constituted to look into the matter said the report of the hydrologist was awaited as a percolation well had to be made. It is surprising that such a big project is being made without the report of the hydrologist,” he remarked.

“There are 23 water mills located along this khud and it is also the water source for several drinking water schemes in the area,” he said. Water can be drawn from Kol Dam for this project as 31 water schemes of Bilaspur district would get affected, he added.

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