Shimla: Not satisfied with the Speaker Tulsi Ram’s ruling to an opposition notice seeking a discussion over appointment of chief parliamentary secretaries, congress members led by Vidya Stokes, leader of the opposition were on their feet shouting slogans and later trooped out of the house on the opening day of the monsoon session.
Stokes was on her feet as soon question hour ended and demanded the speaker allow a discussion after an adjournment motion notice under Rule 67 had been moved, earlier in the day about the government having appointed 3 chief parliamentary secretaries, in violation of the 97th constitutional amendment, other than the orders passed by the High Court in the matter.
The Speaker disallowed any discussion on the matter, ruling that since an law permitting appointment of CPS and parliamentary secretaries stood approved by the house, besides both CPS and PS had been taken out of the purview of being considered as minister, the notice did not warrant an immediate discussion on the subject.
Not satisfied with the speakers ruling, congress legislators were on their feet with Mukesh Agnihotri leading the sloganeering and attempted to disrupt the proceedings. The slogans centred around the double standards adopted by BJP over these appointments as they were vehemently opposed when the party was in opposition.
Failing to draw the ruling benches reaction, the house continued with its listed business for the day and the congressmen walked out.
To clarify the government stand chief minister Dhumal said that the opposition had chosen to dramatize a walkout when the house was seized of serious issues like drought conditions, price rise, unemployment and other problems which the common man is confronted with.
He said that BJP had opposed appointment of 12 CPS and PS by the earlier congress government under Virbhadra Singh, because technicalities in creating those positions were overlooked which had been brought to the notice of the High Court.
Since then a law has been made, and the present government had gone by the law in making these appointments, said the chief minister.
As Editor, Ravinder Makhaik leads a team of media professionals at Hill Post.
Spanning a career of over two decades in mass communication, as a Documentary Filmmaker, TV journalist, Print Media journalist and with Online & Social Media, he brings with him a vast experience. He lives in Shimla.
