Politics Of Walkouts

Himachal This Week Team          (Cover  Story)

The four daylong Monsoon Session of Himachal Assembly was marred by so many walkouts by the opposition. The BJP was adamant on immediate discussion over deteriorating law and order situation in the state. The opposition resorted to so many walkouts from Assembly and no discussion was held on various other issues confronting the state. Himachalis were waiting that state’s burning issues will be discussed by their elected representatives in the Assembly but Monsoon Session, the last session of the 12th assembly, was adjourned without taking up Question Hour and no major business was taken up during the session.

Highlights…

* The four-daylong Monsoon Session of the Himachal Pradesh Assembly,  the last session of the 12th assembly, was adjourned sine die without taking up Question Hour

* It was for the first time that the Question Hour was washed away on all four days of the session

* No major business was taken up during the session

Speaker BBL Butail had to adjourn the first day proceedings of the Monsoon Session of Himachal Assembly within 15 minutes after beginning of the four-day session in the midst of noisy walkout by opposition Bharatiya Janata Party. The opposition demanded admission of their adjournment motion under Rule 67 (Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly) and asked for an immediate discussion over deteriorating law and order situation in the state. Assuring the opposition that a time will be decided for the debate, the Speaker invited both parties to his chamber to resolve the conflict.

BJP Disrupts House

Himachal Pradesh Assembly was adjourned on second day of Monsoon Session as BJP members disrupted the House. The opposition was demanding discussion on the “deteriorating law and order situation” through an adjournment motion. Soon after obituary references to pay homage to Balwant Singh Negi, a former member of the House, BJP Chief Whip Suresh Bhardwaj asked the Speaker about the adjournment motion notice to discuss the “deteriorating law and order situation” under Rule 67. Speaker BBL Butail said the motion under Rule 67 cannot be allowed and it can be discussed under Rule 130. The House was adjourned for 15 minutes after BJP MLAs started raising slogans. As the House re-assembled, Congress member Asha Kumari, who was in the Chair, again adjourned the House.

Logjam Continues

Demanding a debate under Rule 67 on the failing law and order situation, unrelenting BJP stuck to its demand. And Speaker BBL Butail adjourned the assembly after business for the day in the midst of complete pandemonium as the government and opposition clashed over the state’s “deteriorating” law and order situation. The opposition had submitted a notice for a debate on corruption besides another notice for a debate on Dharampur rape case by BJP member Mahinder Thakur.  As soon as the House assembled, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh started making a suo moto statement even before the Question Hour but BJP members obstructed the proceedings. Speaker tried to pacify opposition BJP but they were unrelenting. While BJP members were still objecting to it, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mukesh Agnihotri took the paper from the Chief Minister and read the statement amidst complete uproar. The opposition asked how the chief minister was permitted to make the statement. Leader of Opposition Prem Kumar Dhumal asked the Speaker under which rule Chief Minister was allowed to make a statement without suspending Question Hour. As protests became louder, Speaker adjourned the house for 15 minutes and later for the day.  The situation was no different on the last day as Speaker BBL Butail adjourned the house till 12.00 after ten minutes as the BJP pressed for admission of its adjournment motion to discuss the law and order situation under rule 67. When the house resembled, the house passed the Himachal Pradesh University of Health sciences Bill 2017.

* Behaviour by the opposition members in the House reflects that Leader of Opposition Prem Kumar Dhumal has no control over BJP members

-Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister

* The BJP, if voted to power, will review the decisions taken by the present government during last six months of its tenure as many of them are not in state’s interest

-Prem Kumar Dhumal, Leader of Opposition

Outside Assembly….

(Left) Hundreds of people gathered under Chatra Nayaye Manch, Seraj Nayaye Manch and Med Ram Nayaye Manch gheraoed Vidhan Sabha for three hours in Shimla, demanding justice for Kotkhai rape and murder victim, Hoshiar Singh and Med Ram. (Right) Outsource employees under the banner of Himachal Pradesh Outsource Employees Federation also gheraoed Vidhan Sabha demanding a permanent policy for their regularisation.

From Editor-in-Chief’s Desk

Issues concerning common people were not discussed during Monsoon Session of Himachal Assembly. Who is responsible for the prevailing scenario even as it could be termed as the outcome of prevailing political heat? Was opposition able to corner the government? It is difficult to analyse as to who really cares for people in the midst of pandemonium in Assembly. We can neither turn a blind eye towards Kotkhai and Karsog incidents nor ignore Kotrupi disaster. When will Himachal Assembly have a discussion on such issues? Why the walkouts should continue if one is not able to remember about a constructive debate on any issue during five years in Assembly? It is not only vitiating the atmosphere but also results in wastage of exchequer. It would be easy to understand political aspirations in Himachal if one analyses all Assembly sessions of five years as discussions have been pushed to the backstage. It is a matter of concern if debates confronting state’s concerns are not held within the House. It seems like a chair race between the ruling and opposition parties. Who will talk about problems of unemployment and youths falling prey to drugs? None of the session of Himachal Assembly had answer to these issues. Monsoon Session didn’t discuss even about the damage suffered by Himachal during monsoon season. Will people only change governments in democracy? How will the performance of elected representatives be judged? Himachalis expect constructive debate from their representatives in Assembly.

विवाह प्रस्ताव की तलाश कर रहे हैं ? भारत मैट्रीमोनी में निःशुल्क रजिस्टर करें !

 

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