Barbs fly thick & fast as session off to fiery start

Stormy debate on 'corruption' sees both Opposition and ruling Congress MLAs levelling allegations against each other

- Dar Ovais

DHARAMSHALA: The winter session of the Himachal Pradesh legislative assembly began on Wednesday with the legislators of Opposition party --Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-- moving an adjournment motion and demanding discussion under Rule 67 on the alleged "corruption" during the two-year tenure of the Congress government in the state.

The speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania allowed the discussion to happen with chief minister (CM) Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu agreeing to the demand of the BJP legislators. The scheduled business was suspended and a stormy debate followed on "corruption" with both Opposition and ruling Congress MLAs levelling allegations against each other's governments.

Rule 67 (Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Himachal Pradesh legislative assembly) provides that a motion for an adjournment of the business of the House for the purpose of discussing a definite matter of urgent public importance may be made with the consent of the Speaker.

BJP MLA from Naina Devi constituency Randhir Sharma, who was among the legislators who moved the adjournment motion, started the discussion and accused the Congress government of indulging in corruption during its two-year tenure in Himachal, for which the speaker asked him to present evidence to substantiate his claims.

Sharma alleged corruption in the excise policy, in land deals and in the distribution of relief money to the victims of the monsoon disaster of last year.

BJP MLAs including, Balbir Singh Verma, Surender Shourie and Vinod Kumar, also levelled allegations of corruption at various levels of governance.

Responding to the allegations, Sukhu said that BJP legislators should back their claims with evidence. "The government has agreed to the Opposition's demand for a debate, which is a positive step. We are open to both a debate and an inquiry. However, the legislators have no proof to substantiate their allegations," Sukhu said.