Cong stages walkout, says govt in hurry to amend land laws
Party MLAs are apprehending amendments to Sec 118 of land Act; CM says oppn raising hue and cry over a nonissue
SHIMLA:The budget session of the new Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha got off to a stormy start on Tuesday, with the Congress staging a walkout alleging that it apprehended amendments in Section 118 of the Himachal Pradesh Tenancy and Land Reforms Act 1972.
Soon after the House assembled, Congress MLA Mukesh Agnihotri questioned speaker Rajiv Bindal about the fate of adjournment motion under rule 67 moved by Congress MLAs Ram Lal and Jagat Singh Negi.
Mukesh, accompanied by other opposition leaders, constantly raised the issue while the speaker apprised him that he has sent it to the government for consideration. Congress legislatures alleged that the government was in a haste to make amendments.
Meanwhile, the ruling party members objected to the Congress members’ anticipation and that led to a complete pandemonium in the House. The Congress members resorted to sloganeering and later, led by Agnihotri, staged a walkout from the House.
The walkout was condemned by CM Jai Ram Thakur who clarified the House on Congress allegation on proposals to amend Section 118 of the Land Tenancy Act. He said that so far, his government has only sought suggestion on Section 118 but no official decision to amend it has been taken. “Personally, I don’t know what kind of amendment should be made in this particular section,” he commented.
He alleged that the opposition was trying to make an issue out of nothing. Thakur further said that if he began to unravel the working of the previous Congress government’s regime in the state, the Congress legislators will not be able to sit in the House.
“The Congress raked up the issue just to gain political mileage, which was not a good thing,” he said, adding that the walkout was condemnable.
The CM further made it clear that his government had no intentions to act with vengeance and the opposition was forcing things upon him. Meanwhile, CM Thakur said that his government will not act under any pressure.
“Our government has immense support from the public and we would always take care of public interest,” he said. He further said, “The issue which the opposition raised in the House was very unfortunate. He said his government will look into the violations in Section 118 of the land Act.
Public opinion and suggestions from opposition have been sought on land laws and any decision on amending them would be taken on the basis of the feedback.
JAI RAM THAKUR, Himachal CM