Himachal orders magisterial inquiry into clash between Cong youth, police

: Himachal Pradesh chief minister Jai Ram Thakur Monday ordered a magisterial inquiry into the clash between Youth Congress workers and police outside the state assembly on Friday.

However, Congress members demanded a judicial inquiry into the matter and staged a walkout.

Speaking during the ongoing Monsoon Session of the House, the CM claimed that Congress youth workers pelted stones and lathis at police personnel during their demonstration on Friday.

Police used water cannons to disperse them. Despite this “I am ready for a magisterial inquiry, as in a democracy the views of the opposition are taken care of by the ruling party”, Thakur said.

The Congress had claimed that a dozen of its youth workers were injured, while the CM said nine policemen, including an additional superintendent of police, were injured during the clash.

Thakur said if Speaker Rajeev Bindal allows, they were ready to discuss the issue in the House.

Youth Congress was allowed to hold demonstrations between 11.30am and 1.30pm by Shimla deputy commissioner, but its workers held the protest at 3.30pm instead, the CM claimed.

On a photo being circulated by Congress workers on social media sites, claiming it was of the Friday’s clash, Thakur said it was an old one and that of a woman injured in an attack by a group in Rajasthan. Raising slogans in support of their demand for judicial inquiry, Congress MLAs entered the Well as soon as the house began at 2 pm. The speaker adjourned the House till 2.30 pm.

When the House reassembled, Bindal said four members of the opposition wanted to discuss the issue under assembly’s Rule 67.

SHIMLA