SPEECH LASTS OVER TWO HOURS
CM Jai Ram Thakur’s budget speech was two and a half hours long. It was delivered entirely in Hindi, comprising 24 couplets.
Two exspeakers in gallery
Two former speakers, Gangu Ram Musafir and Radha Raman Shashtri, were in attendence and sat patiently through the budget speech in the gallery.
CM wife in the House too
The chief minister’s wife Sadhana Thakur, who was also is the guest gallery, drew the attention of the House. Shilai legislator Harshwardhan Chauna referred to the presence of Mrs Thakur when Thakur mentioned about Himchal Grahini Suvidha Yojana.
Virbhadra all ears
The veteran-most member in the house, former chief minister Virbhadra Singh, listened to the speech carefully on the headphones, however, unlike other times, he did not make any passing reference.
CLP leader’s jibe at CM
Journalist-turned-politician and Congress Legislature Party leader Mukesh Agnihotri took a jibe at the couplets in Jai Ram’s speech, saying Mirza Ghalib must be turning in his grave.
‘Jai Ram Rajya’
When the CM mentioned that his government’s endeavour was to have ‘Ram Rajya’ in the state , state Congress president Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu was quick to add that Jai Ram Rajya had already commenced.