Thaindian News

Shimla, Aug 30 (IANS) Miffed by the policies of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Himachal Pradesh, the opposition Congress has staged walkouts at least five times a year, on average.

Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal commented on the walkouts by the opposition in the state assembly Thursday.

“The Congress has staged a walkout 27 times in the past five years,” Dhumal said.

“In this brief session (four days), the Congress members staged a walkout every day. This indicates that the Congress is not serious about discussing important public issues,” the chief minister said.

“They start speaking in the house without the permission of the chair. There is no difference in their behaviour outside and inside the house,” the chief minister said.

According to the assembly records, the 11th Vidhan Sabha, which Thursday adjourned sine die its monsoon session, had 164 sittings. The first session was held Jan 11, 2008.

During the budget session during March this year, the assembly remained stalled for five consecutive days over a demand seeking a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into allegations of corruption against then health minister Rajeev Bindal.

On the fifth day of the walkout, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ravinder Singh Ravi said he favoured “no work, no pay” if minimum legislative business was not transacted.

“They have failed to play the role of the opposition. If ‘no work, no pay’ is applicable to government employees, it should also be applicable to legislators,” Ravi had said.