The Himachal Vidhan Sabha witnessed unruly scenes on the second day of the winter session as the opposition Congress members demanding immediate discussion on two adjournment motions trooped into the well of the House and tried to stall the proceedings. As soon as the House assembled and Speaker Tulsi Ram called for the Question Hour,leader of the opposition Vidya Stokes was on her feet demanding to know the fate of notice for two adjournment motions submitted by Congress on Monday. The adjournment motions pertained to the arrest of a senior BJP leader and her husband in the recruitment scam and failure of the government to take action against two cabinet ministers and chief secretary on the alleged use of liquor and money during the Renuka by-elections. Stokes said that discussion on both the adjournment motions should be taken up immediately and several other members supported her. She also demanded that the Question Hour be suspended do discuss the motions. The Speaker,however quoted the rules,and said that the notice for the adjournment motions was received late and as such these could not be admitted but he was ready for discussion on both the issues under different rule. The Speaker even informed the members that the discussion on both the matters has been fixed for December 21 under Rule 130,but it had no sobering effect on agitated Congress members. The Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ravinder Singh Ravi said that the government was prepared for discussion on any issue but it must be permitted by the chair. The Congress members refused to relent and when the Speaker went ahead with the Question Hour,they started raising slogans and trooped in the well of the House. When the pandemonium continued even after the Question Hour,the Speaker adjourned the house for the day after some bills were introduced and listed business of the day was completed. Later talking to reporters Stokes launched a scathing attack on the government for suppressing the Oppositions voice. Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal,on his part,accused the Congress of behaving in an irresponsible manner. Two important discussions on damage caused to the crops by wild animals and acquisition of land for construction of roads were slated for today but could not be held,he added. He asserted that no person found guilty in recruitment scam would be allowed to go scot free. Referring to the money recovered during the Renuka assembly by-elections,he said that it was meant for day-to-day election expenses permissible under the election laws.
