Shimla, Sep 9
Himachal Pradesh Assembly witnessed the noisy scene in the house on Wednesday, the third day of monsoon session, as the Congress members boycotted the Chief Minister’s reply on COVID-19 discussion staging walk out.Later the Congress leaders alleged that they were deprived to participate in the discussion on the current pandemic.
As the house began its proceedings on Wednesday for session Leader of Opposition Mukesh Agnihotri insissed to allow the participation of more Congress members in the discussion on COVID-19. Rejecting the opposition demand, Speaker Vipin Singh Parmar said that discussion continued on the motion for more than six hours and 28 members took part in it for two days. He said that under the rule 67 he could allow discussion for two and half hours but the discussion continued much beyond the stipulated time.He said, ”This house made history by allowing discussion under adjourning all business on Sep 7 as in the history of the state legislature this was never allowed.
Opposition Leader Agnihotri alleged that the Chief Minister was bulldozing its agenda and the Speaker conducting the discussion giving advantage to the treasury benches, which is not fair. He demanded that Harashvardhan Chauhan, who have moved this motion should be allowed to speak as four of Congress members were not allowed to speak.When Speaker rejected the demand and Chief Minister started his reply on the discussion held on pandemic, the members of Congress started raising slogans and went up to the well and continued their protest. All member of opposition staged walk out after the reply in protest when speaker asked them to withdraw the motion. The opposition stated that they could not withdraw the motion and went out of the house.
Later the speaker announced division on the motion in absence of Congress members which was defeated by voice vote.Five Congress legislators Mr. Mukesh Agnihotri, Asha Kumari, Ram Lal Thakur, Harash Vardhan Chauhan and Jagat SinghNegi had moved this motion under rule- 67 to discuss the failure of Government to handle the Covid situation demanding resignation of the Chief Minister and the entire cabinet.
HP borrowed Rs 1,600 cr, repaid Rs 2,088 crore
Chief Minister in his reply stated that government has provided about 24.93Cr to various departments during COVID-19 pandemic. He said that state Government borrowed Rs 1,100 crore last years and during this financial years state has made a total borrowing of Rs 5,00 crore. He said that the state government has made repayment of Rs 2,088 crore in last three years. Rs 25 crore state have only 60 ventilators before the pandemic now increased to 640 as 500 ventilators were provided to the state by the Centre Government.Thakur said that 4.05 lakh people brought back in the state after spending 13 Crore for this purpose . He said that 62000 people stranding in various part of country were facilitated or brought to state by buses and others 20,000 by trains. He said that 24 special trains were started by the Government. He said that free food was being distributed in the quarantine centre by the government. Home delivery of essential commodities, ration, vegetables and other medicines were made during the lockdown. The ration was provided to 13. 95 lakh people on their doorstep. He said that cooked and food items were delivered for 13 lakh to people who were stranded in various places due to lock down. About 172 students who were stranding at Kota in Rajasthan were brought in the HRTC buses to the state. Around 3,400state citizens were evacuated from the national Capital region to Chandigarh.He said that Rs 24.93 crore were provided to different departments during the pandemic. Chief Minister said that the State Government announced a relief amount of Rs 50 lakh for the death of Covid Warrier during the duties. The Government advanced the enhancement of increased salaries or honorarium to the Asha Worker, IPH Fitter, Paraworkers and Water guards and other government workers facilitated them during the pandemic.He said that Rs 64 Crore was spent on the Kamgarh Worker in the state during the last three years. He said that assistance amount of Rs. 1000 per month enhanced to Rs 2000 per month to construction and building workers during the pandemic.
Thakur said that three crore apple boxes were provided for the apple season by purchasing it from the packaging industries to run the apple season.
