Cong raises slogans against speaker, walks out of House
UNPRECEDENTED Opposition accuses him of bias in listing agenda, Rajeev Bindal refutes allegations
DHARAMSHALA: Accusing the speaker of harbouring a bias against them, members of the opposition raised slogans and staged a walkout, on the third day of the winter session, convened on Wednesday.
As soon as session commenced, Kinnaur MLA Jagat Singh Negi, who is affiliated with the Congress, raised a point of order (a parliamentary procedure where someone draws attention to a rules violation) asking the fate of an adjournment notice (moved under Rule 67) to discuss the implementation of the Forest Conservation Act in his constituency and allocation of nautor land (waste land owned by the government).
Speaker Rajeev Bindal ruled that the issue was sub judice and therefore cannot be discussed and was therefore rejected.
“As per the Rule 69(8), of the rules of procedure and conduct of business in the HP Assembly, the motion shall not deal with any matter that is under adjudication by a court of law having jurisdiction in any part of India,” Bindal ruled.
The ruling was followed by a commotion as the disgruntled opposition began raising slogans. A heated exchange ensued between leader of opposition Mukesh Agnihotri and civil supply minister Kishan Kapoor. Jagat Singh also had a verbal tiff with parliamentary affairs minister Suresh Bhardwaj. Following which Bhardwaj too became the subject of the sloganeers ire.
Agnihotri questioned the government over why cabinet decisions were published in media without intimating the house about them. He also accused the speaker of harbouring a bias in listing the agenda of the day. He said, “All the three discussions listed are for members of the ruling party and not for the opposition.”
Agnihotri then raised slogans against the speaker and the government. The opposition walked out of the house a little after the question hour began.
THE SPEAKER’S TAKE
Bindal said Negi had first moved the motion under Rule 63 (notice for raising discussion of urgent public importance) under which it was rejected following which he moved the notice under Rule 67.
“Jagat Singh himself served as a deputy speaker and knows the rules and therefore, making such an allegation against the chair was not right on his part,” said Bindal.
The speaker also refuted allegations of showing bias in listing the agenda. He said, questions of opposition members had also been listed in the agenda. “There are no pending motions of the opposition,” said Bindal.
Later, Bhardwaj brought a resolution seeking to condemn the behaviour of the opposition leader and other unruly members. The resolution was supported by Kapoor.However, the speaker requested the members to not proceed with the resolution hoping that “good sense will prevail.” Bindal’s decision was supported by chief minister Jai Ram Thakur.
CM CONDEMNS OPPOSITION
Condemning the opposition for its unruly behaviour, Thakur said such an instance had never occurred in the history of the state before.
He said he behaviour of the opposition had been insulting to the chair and had hurt the dignity of the house. “The words used against the speaker are condemnable,” he said.