The Aman Sandesh Times
Shimla : Pacifying both Treasury Benches and Opposition Benches over a verbal spat between Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur and Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi, Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kuldeep Pathania assured that the undesirable remarks will be removed from the House record.
Raising a Point of Order Sulah MLA Vipin Parmar said indecent remarks were being made by the Revenue Minister against LoP and had insulted women of the entire state by commenting on Mandi MP Kangana Ranaut.
He also said the Chief Minister should have intervened and not remained silent over such remarks.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said when heated exchanges take place, there is bound to be retaliation so there is a need for the Opposition MLAs to exercise restraint.
“People are watching the assembly proceedings so each one of us must act responsibly. Even LoP had made objectionable remarks against the Revenue Minister yesterday,” said the CM.
Leader of Opposition (LoP) Jai Ram Thakur said the House should be run as per rules. “Why is everyone saying that I keep getting angry as I am merely performing my duty of LoP like Mukesh Agnihotri did while in Opposition,” the former CM said, adding, “Does the opposition not have the right to ask questions and the CM should intervene when such an ugly spat takes place.”
Responding to the issue, the Revenue Minister said the House runs as per rules. “When you have given me a chance to speak why were they intervening repeatedly as rules are the same for everyone. LoP also used the same language against me,” he said. “The people of Himachal are watching the behaviour of the Opposition. My remarks against Ranaut were in the lighter vein and I have always honoured the rules of the House.”
Parliamentary Affairs Harshwardhan Chauhan said any objectionable remarks should be expunged. “Everyone should maintain calm so that the House can run smoothly and maximum business can be taken up,” he said.
“Rules are being applied only to opposition only. LoP wanted to speak about reference to Himachal in the Union budget but the Revenue Minister used very objectionable words against him,” Parmar regretted. He added that the CM should reprimand the ministers and ruling party legislators who make such remarks.
“You can get help from the Centre through dialogue and not confrontation and making remarks about the PM. Parties make government but government is not of any party,” Parmar said.
Naina Devi MLA Randhir Sharma said recording of the verbal spat between Negi and LoP has gone viral on social media.
