Suspension of BJP MLA revoked in Himachal Assembly

August 25, 2016 12:09 am | Updated 12:09 am IST - SHIMLA

Contrary to the expectations, the Bharatiya Janata Party, which sits as the Opposition in Himachal Pradesh and was expected to take a stand on the CBI’s revelations against sitting Congress Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh in the disproportionate assets case, on Wednesday pleaded before the House for revoking the suspension of its senior MLA Ravinder Ravi, who had smashed the microphones when disallowed a discussion yesterday on the issue of corruption related to Mr. Virbhadra Singh. Instead of focusing on the CBI’s disclosure regarding the chief minister amassing assets worth Rs. 10 crore, BJP members steered by the leader of the Opposition Prem Kumar Dhumal, were seen convincing the Speaker, the Chief Minister and the Parliamentary Affairs Minister to revoke the suspension of their MLA, who had vociferously raised this issue.

Mr. Ravi also tendered an unconditional apology to the House, expressed regret over his behaviour, and said he would bear the cost of replacing the microphones.

Earlier, Speaker, B.B.L. Butail announced the suspension of the five-time BJP MLA from the House for the next three days, for his misconduct and for damaging the House property. Mr. Dhumal, who objected to the suspension, said that while the BJP MLA was denied the opportunity to discuss the CBI’s admissions with reference to Mr. Singh by the Speaker on grounds that the matter was sub-judice, the CM had been allowed to speak at length over the same matter, causing the senior party MLA to be thus provoked.

Alleging partiality by the chair, Mr. Dhumal said Mr. Virbhadra Singh had squarely blamed a Union Minister, Mr. Dhumal himself, and BCCI chief and MP Anurag Thakur, for hatching a political conspiracy in the disproportionate assets case against him on Tuesday. The CBI has alleged that Mr. Singh had accumulated assets worth Rs.10 crore while he was the Union steel minister during the UPA II regime at the Centre.

Replying to the pleas of the BJP legislators to revoke the suspension, Mr. Butail said the action against MLA Ravi was taken for damaging Assembly property and not for speaking and making comments. “I can take cognisance [of breach of parliamentary norms] and there is no need for any complaint,” he clarified.

But after around an hour of adjournment, when the House reassembled, the speaker said the suspended member had tendered an unconditional apology and he asked the House to take a call on the issue. The House later passed a resolution to revoke the suspension, unanimously.

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