Protesting ‘weakening’ of office of MLA, Congress walks out

Shimla, February 13

The Congress today staged a walkout in the house over the issue of denigration and weakening of the institution of the MLA even as Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur accused the Congress of trying to unnecessarily rake up an issue over a trivial matter.

Raising the issue through Point of Order, Congress legislator Harshwardhan Chauhan said post dated cheques had been issued to three people of his constituency by SDM Paonta Sahib. “I had extended relief to three people of my area from the MLA Discretionary Fund and the SDM has issued post dated cheques whereas the money has to be given from this financial year’s discretionary grant,” he pointed out.

He said this appeared to be a deliberate attempt to denigrate and weaken the institution of the MLA and lower its dignity. He said he had given notice to the Speaker’s office for Privilege against the official.

Replying to the issue, the CM said that it was a typing error and it is but natural for anyone to err. “I don’t think Congress should make such a big issue out of a mere typing error,” he said. He later informed the house that two corrected cheques had been issued today by the SDM after the issue was raised in the Assembly.

The issue generated a lot of heat as Leader of Opposition Mukesh Agnihotri pointed out that the private company setting up the Food Park in Una was pressurized to get new invitation cards printed to drop the name of the local MLA. “It is a very unfortunate trend which must be put to an end if we wish to protect the dignity of the institution of the MLA,” said Agnihotri.

Former CM Virbhadra Singh objected to the manner in which names of MLAs were not being mentioned in the foundation or inauguration stones. “It is very unfortunate that such a trend is catching up and I would term it as cheap politics of denying the sitting MLA his due,” he remarked. — TNS