Ruckus in Himachal Assembly: Opposition walks out as charges fly over unmet democratic norms, dues under Himcare scheme

The Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha today witnessed frayed tempers as Opposition and treasury benches traded charges over the flouting of democratic norms and traditions of the House as pandemonium prevailed on the second day of the monsoon session.

Trouble broke out during a Point of Order when Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi accused Leader of Opposition (LoP) Jai Ram Thakur of not upholding traditions during his tenure as chief minister. As he was speaking, the opposition legislators started raising slogans, forcing the Speaker to adjourn the house for five minutes amidst the pandemonium. The Opposition leaders eventually left the House.

The situation remained unresolved even after the house re-assembled and the Opposition MLAs left the House again, raising slogans.

Giving the ruling after the House reassembled after the adjournment, Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania said nothing would be part of the record, which was against the prestige of not just the Revenue Minister but also other members. Earlier, the Parliamentary Affairs Minister, through a Point of Order, had objected to the remarks made by the LoP during Question Hour that the government had broken all traditions. As the LoP stood his ground and reiterated that the Congress regime had “broken all traditions”, Negi stood up to defend the government.

As the Revenue Minister accused Thakur of behaving in an arrogant manner when he was the CM, the Opposition members stood up and started raising slogans against Negi. Pandemonium prevailed in the House with both sides on their feet and trading charges.

Prior to this, during the Question Hour, too, the BJP legislators raised slogans and left the House over the state government failing to clear the dues under Himcare scheme and people not getting benefits in government institutions. 

The Parliamentary Affairs Minister condemned the behaviour of the Opposition and said that the BJP was creating ruckus as it did not have any real issues to raise.