Bedlam over CM’s reply to Guv’s address

Pratibha Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, February 7

Dissatisfied with the Chief Minister’s reply on the debate on the Governor’s address, the Congress today staged a walkout even as the Chief Minister was halfway through his reply.

The Congress sought details from the CM on the status of 30 new schemes announced by him in last Budget which had failed to take off. The treasury benches and Opposition members traded charges and indulged in counter-sloganeering.

A total of 32 legislators, including 18 from the Congress, participated in the debate on the motion of thanks to the Governor’s address during the last three days of the session. Governor Acharya Devvrat addressed the Vidhan Sabha on the opening day of the session on February 4.

Congress legislators left the House even as the CM was giving the reply. “If the Opposition has the right to voice its opinion, so does the ruling party. It is undemocratic and unfair on the part of the Congress not to listen to my reply,” said Thakur. There were certain traditions of the House which must be honoured.

Speaker Rajeev Bindal also said the Opposition, who had been given ample time to speak, should have at least heard the CM’s reply.

Giving details of the performance of his regime in the last one year, he said the success of Jan Manch, in which 26,999 cases had been resolved, had rattled the Congress.

He added that there was always scope for improvement and the suggestions and cooperation of the Opposition were always welcome.

More than Rs 9,000 crore had been received under the Central schemes and Rs 10,300 crore under externally aided projects, the highest till date. “The facts is that we have implemented most of the schemes like giving gas connections, farmers crop insurance, zero-budget natural farming, Gau Sadans, jobs, simplifying industrial and power policy to rope in investment, Gudiya and Hoshiyar Singh helpline to curb crime against women.