Shimla, Aug 30
In a heated session, the Himachal Pradesh Assembly on Friday passed a condemnation motion against BJP MLA Inderdutt Lakhanpal for casting aspersions on the Speaker’s chair. The motion was introduced by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Harshvardhan Chauhan after the Assembly reconvened following a lunch break.
Chauhan expressed strong disapproval of the incident, stating that the BJP MLA had attempted to undermine the Speaker’s authority through a point of order. He emphasized that no member should be allowed to question the Speaker in such a manner, as it damages the rapport and respect for the chair. Although the remarks made by Lakhanpal were expunged from the record, Chauhan condemned the attempt to tarnish the Speaker’s reputation.
Recalling an earlier incident on February 28, Chauhan noted that opposition members had thrown papers at the Speaker’s dais in an alleged attempt to destabilize the government as part of a conspiracy dubbed “Operation Lotus.” He mentioned a statement by the Leader of the Opposition claiming that “even God could not save this government.” However, Chauhan asserted that the government remains strong, with the support of 40 members, and will continue to govern until 2027 as mandated by the people.
The Speaker welcomed the points raised by Chauhan, assuring the Assembly that he has always acted impartially, often giving more time to opposition benches than to the treasury benches. He further stated that during his tenure, he has not acted in a partisan manner, emphasizing that his years of experience exceed those of most members.
The motion was passed, but opposition members protested the Speaker’s ruling and left the Assembly without making further statements. The session was subsequently adjourned for 25 minutes until Monday.
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