HP Global Investors’ meet: Cong smell scam, stage walkout from Assembly

DHARAMSHALA: Smelling a scam in the Global Investors’ meet—a first of its kind business event, held at Dharamshala a month back, the Congress today staged a walk-out from the state Assembly, currently in its weeklong winter session here.

The opening day of the session was not a smooth affair for the opposition too, as Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur hit back at the Congress for trying to play a spoil sport to state’s mega investment drive that has already yielded Mous worth Rs 93,000 crore.

“If you start playing a negative role to stall investments by discouraging investors, I will be compelled to give you a befitting reply “Chief minister declared, after leader of opposition Mukesh Agnihotri led his party MLAS to stage a walk-out.

He said, “I have serious objections to your language and behaviour. We will not tolerate such a culture in Himachal Pradesh. It only shows your perverted mind. What culture you really represent? “.

The opposition which had tabled an adjournment motion on the issue alleging huge wasteful expenditure and extravagant event, clashed with the ruling BJP MLAS, who retorted back to shout down the opposition.

Mukesh Agnihotri raising the issue said, “Global investors meet is the biggest scam in history of Himachal Pradesh. The government has put the state on sale to oblige few business houses, sell-out vital interests by relaxing norms and granting concessions. This is unacceptable though the congress was not against genuine investments.

While the Chief Minister listened to him, the treasury benches and two cabinet minister – Suresh Bhardwaj (Parliamentary affairs) and Bikram Singh Thakur (Industries) confronted Agnihotri.

The House witnessed noisy scenes and slogans from both the sides as eventually the opposition staged as walk-out and held protests out -side the House.

Later, the Chief Minister trying to put records straight said that he wondered why the Congress was raising questions on state government’s drive to bring new investments.

“This is a new way to boost economy. Our event had lowest expenditure. More over Rs 12 crore was provided by the Centre. I am ready to share all facts and figures if the opposition was ready to listen. Let there be an open debate in the House. I have nothing to side. Everything is done in transparent way. There were lot of positive outcomes too”, he informed.