Uproar in Himachal Assembly over Kangana Ranaut's remarks
Tribune News Service
Shimla, August 27
The first day of the Monsoon session of Himachal Pradesh Assembly on Tuesday witnessed sloganeering and heated exchanges between the treasury benches and the opposition members over the remarks made by Mandi MP Kangana Ranaut on the farmers’ agitation.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan moved a resolution condemning the remarks by Ranaut.
“The remarks by Kangana is an insult of the farmers of the entire country. The opposition has left the House but we wanted to know the stand of the BJP on the issue,” he said. The BJP has also washed its hands off her remarks by stating that she is not authorised to speak, he added.
Chauhan said it is very unfortunate to call farmers as rapists and terrorists. “The house must hold a debate on this and condemn these kind of objectionable remarks against farmers who feed the entire country,” he said. He sought the stand of the BJP on Kangana’s remarks after the Opposition returned to the House following a walkout.
As BJP MLAs objected to the issue being raised in the House, the ruling party legislators too were on their feet. There was counter sloganeering as Speaker tried to pacify both sides.
Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kuldeep Pathania said the House is condemning the objectionable remarks by the Mandi MP. “They (opposition) are also part of the BJP leadership so they agree with their stand,” he said.
Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur said a debate on a person who cannot defend himself in the House, cannot be held. Our party has condemned the issue so it should not be politicized or raised in the House, he added.
Revenue Minister Jagat Negi said the highly objectionable comments by Kangana can create a serious law and order situation in the state. “Rather I request the CM to get a case registered against the Mandi MP so that there is no law and order situation in the state due to her remarks against the farmers,” he said.
Supporting the resolution moved against Kangana’s remarks, Theog MLA Kuldeep Rathore said that 700 farmers had lost their lives in the agitation. “The reaction of opposition shows that they too support Kangana’s remarks on the farmers. The entire state is watching the irresponsible conduct of opposition,” he added.
