Speaker ‘hurt’ at Cong walkout,terms it ‘breach’ of House decorum

Himachal Assembly Speaker Tulsi Ram on Friday said he was “hurt” by the action of the Congress members staging a walk-out from the House against his ruling on Wednesday,and termed it as ‘breach of the House’ decorum. The Speaker made these remarks before the House resumed the debate on the Governor’s Address. Tulsi Ram,however,pointed out that he was not intending to proceed in the matter and would instead like to leave it up to the conscience of three senior Congress members — Vidya Stokes,Kaul Singh Thakur and Gangu Ram Musafir — all former Speakers,to think over their action. “I am leaving it up to you to ponder upon your action of walkout,and think whether I was right in my ruling to expunge certain remarks of Congress MLA Rakesh Kalia,or your action of walkout was justifiable in any manner?” The Congress had staged a walkout after the Speaker had decided to expunge certain remarks against a sitting minister. The decision triggered protests from the Congress MLAs,who staged a walk-out.