Expressing dissatisfaction over the reply of Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh to a debate on law and order situation in the state, the BJP staged a walkout in the Vidhan Sabha.
Earlier, BJP legislature Randhir Sharma initiated the debate and raised his concern about the increasing crime rate in the state. Sharma said that cases of theft, rape, sand mining and other offences had been increased in the past seven months and accused the state government for shielding those behind it. He also accused of misusing the police machinery to harass political opponents and during the recent students’ elections in the state.
Congress leader Asha Kumari rebutted the allegations and said it was the BJP government which implicated Congress leaders in false cases and cited the case registered against her in 2000 along with cases against Virbhadra Singh. She accused previous government for misusing the police machinery. However, BJP members object all her allegations. Chintapurni legislature Kuldeep Kumar participated in the debate and accused BJP for shielding corrupts during their rein.
BJP leaders Bikram Singh, Satpal Satti made contribution in the debate. Bikram Singh shows his concern over increasing illegal mining along Punjab border. Satpal Satti advised Govt to check the law and order condition and advised to misuse police machinery on political consideration. He draws house attention towards the political involvement in student election and advised both parties to not involve in their matter. He also asked Govt to check illegal mining across the state boundary and punish those who are behind it. Replying on the Kuldeep Kumar’s allegations, Satti advised him check facts before making any allegations against BJP.
While participating in the debate, Chief Minister accused the successive BJP regimes for misusing the police machinery to fabricate false cases against him. He said that cases were made sitting in the office of the Director General of Police and in his earlier term the Dhumal government framed him in the Sagar Katha case and he came out clean. He said in his last term, the BJP government had registered a case against him on the basis of an audio CD and he faced trial in the court of law and came unscathed.
However, BJP member Suresh Bhardawaj interrupted him and said the CD was released by the then Congress leader Vijay Singh Mankotia and the BJP government could not be blamed for it. Other BJP members also joined him and after noisy scenes, all the BJP members left the House raising slogans.
Virbhadra condemned the action of the BJP members and said they believed in “fascist” ways and had no faith in democratic norms and traditions. CM said that BJP members were intolerant and didn’t believe in debating issues and not prepared to listen to the views of others. He said he had not witnessed such non-serious debate in the House and blamed BJP members for lowering the dignity of the House by their conduct.
