On the last day of monsoon session of the Assembly, Opposition Congress again walkout over the issue of lathicharge and use of tear gas shells and water canons on party leaders and activists during Wednesday’s rally in Shimla.
Congress Legislature Party leader Vidya Stokes raised the issue immediately after the question hour, demanding a magisterial enquiry into the action on party activists at a “peaceful rally” and action against police officials for resorting to it.
Defending police action, chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal said Congress workers had climbed on barricades and pelted stones on cops. However, he added that since the CLP leader has raised the issue, he would look into the matter. Not satisfied with the reply, Congress MLAs reiterated their demand for magisterial probe.
While other Opposition members remained quiet on the issue, Mukesh Agnihotri kept insisting on a magisterial probe. Soon after they started raising slogans inside the House and walked out as ruling party members too resorted to slogans. On the walkout Chief Minister made quip that in the last five years, Opposition has staged 27 walkouts in the assembly. He added that this indicates that the Congress is not serious about discussing important public issues.
