Congress stages walkout from Himachal Pradesh Assembly

The opposition Congress today staged a walkout from the Himachal Pradesh Assembly, after the speaker was unable to furnish details on the status of the privilege notice served by party MLA Neerj Bharti.
    
Soon after the question hour, leader of opposition Vidya Stokes asked the speaker Tulsi Ram about the status of privilege notice given by Congress MLA Neerj Bharti complaining about the last-minute cancellation of his foundation laying ceremony of Ambedkar bhawan in Jawali recently by the district administration.
    
The speaker said he has sought report on the matter, but Stokes questioned delay on the matter.
    
Dissatisfied with speaker's reply and alleging the ruling BJP government of having "vindictive" attitude towards the opposition, the Congress members walked out of the house shouting anti-government slogans.
    
Later, chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal described the Congress walkout as "irresponsible behaviour."
    
The state government has no role in the matter and the opposition allegations of "witch-hunting" the Congress members were "baseless", he said adding the walkout confirms that the opposition was not interested in raising public issues in the assembly.