CM orders magisterial inquiry into clash of Cong workers, police
Says Friday protest videos clearly show Cong workers violating rules, adds the govt is ready to debate on the matter
SHIMLA : Chief minister Jai Ram Thakur ordered a magisterial probe into the clash between youth Congress workers and police outside the state assembly here on Friday, after the opposition Congress alleged that the government was trying to suppress it voice, on the third day of the Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha’s monsoon session on Monday.
Thakur said that holding a protest and the raising one’s voice was the democratic right of citizens. Thakur condemned the youth Congress protest that turned violent as the activists clashed with the police.
He however said that the Congress was trying to derive political mileage from the issue by raising it oft repeatedly. “What happened is said but what my friends are trying to project is far from reality,” said the CM. He said that he had watched the video clippings of the clash and claimed that it was the youth Congress workers who first resorted to violence.
Detailing the House, he said that nine policemen sustained injuries in the stone hurling by agitators. Further, Thakur gave clean chit to the officers present on the spot. He said that the deputy commissioner (DC) had permitted the youth Congress to stage the protest near a hotel. But the partymen marched towards the Vidhan Sabha, thus violating the permission.
He further said that they were allowed to hold the protest between 11.30 am and 2.30 pm but protest turned violent at 3.30 pm.
He said the protesters scaled the barricades outside the Vidhan Sabha. “It is evident from the video footage that the youth Congress activists hurled stones,” he said. Thakur clarified that the police used water cannons to disperse the violent Congress activists. He said the Congress was trying to portray that there was lawlessness in the state, adding that his government was ready to debate on the matter. He further appealed to the Congress legislators to participtae in the proceedings of the House saying that in a democracy, both the ruling and oppostion parties have an important role to play.