Himachal Congress rebel MLAs say decision taken in haste, under pressure

Tribune News Service

Shimla, February 29

The six rebel Congress MLAs, who have been disqualified, today said that the decision by the Speaker has been taken in a haste and under pressure from the Chief Minister, which they would challenge in the court of law.

The six defiant MLAs, who are still camping in Haryana weighing their future course of action, said they were not willing to compromise their self-esteem which was hurt in the last one year. As they brace for the legal battle, they ruled out the possibility of returning back to the Congress fold.

A four-time Congress MLA from Dharamsala Sudhir Sharma said he would challenge the decision in court as there was ample evidence to prove their presence in the House. “The collapse of the Congress government is imminent and in the interest of the state. I am not the one to get intimidated as I believe in acting fearlessly,” Sharma said.

Three-time Congress MLA from Sujanpur, Rajinder Rana who defeated former CM PK Dhumal in 2017, said the decision by the Speaker would be challenged in court. He said he had not received any notice from the Vidhan Sabha for disqualification.

Even as Rana and Sharma have been on a warpath mainly for being denied ministerial berths, their complete sidelining over political lightweights triggered the revolt. Rana said the six MLAs had been compelled to revolt due to the dictatorial style of functioning of the Chief Minister and the MLA being humiliated and completely sidelined.

“Based on the notice received only by Chaitanya Sharma from the Vidhan Sabha on WhatsApp, all of us filed our reply by 1.15 pm on February 28, seeking more time,” said Rana. Sharma too said he had not received any notice for disqualification from the Vidhan Sabha.

“When we came to the Assembly yesterday, the Speaker was not present in the House. We marked our attendance and our images have been captured in the cameras,” the two defiant MLAs said. The three-time Barsar MLA from CM’s home district of Hamirpur ID Lakhanpal said he had conveyed his grouse to the high command on several occasion but nobody took note of it. “I have dedicated 42 years of life to the party but I was subjected to humiliation with no development work taking place in my constituency,” he lamented.

“We had been suffering humiliation for the last 14 months and despite apprising the high command about it, there was no action. As such we were compelled to take this step,” said Rana. “There is no question of going back to the Congress and the CM is lying that we are in touch with him,” he added.

Collapse of govt imminent

The collapse of the Congress government is imminent and in the interest of the state. I am not the one to get intimidated as I believe in acting fearlessly. — Sudhir Sharma, Dharamsala MLA

Were suffering humiliation

We had been suffering humiliation for the last 14 months and despite apprising the high command about it, there was no action. As such we were compelled to take this step. — Rajinder Rana, sujanpur MLA

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