September 14,2020
The opposition Congress on Monday protested strongly and walked out of the state assembly seeking action against SP Kullu for allegedly confining Cong MLA and ten others inside the SP Complex.
As the house assembled on 6th day during monsoon session after the two day weekly off, the Leader of Opposition Mukesh Agnihotri pointed out that Congress MLA Sunder Singh Thakur was hauled up while protesting outside the SP Office, Kullu on the alleged incident of attack on the private residence by the BJP workers .
He said that MLA was kept inside the SP office for 12 hrs without getting any direction or order from the Speaker of Assembly Vipin Singh Parmar, as the Assembly session is on.
Terming it the attempt to undermine the dignity of MLA institutions, Agnihotri said that SP Kullu passed an order to declare the SP officer containment zone and sealed the SP complex for alleged compliance of Union Government Order of May 18, 2020 and confining the ten people along with MLA inside.Â
Congress leader stated in the house that confining the MLA and Congress workers inside the SP office was against the Chief Secretary’s notification of Jul 31, which states that there is no need to declared the premises as confinement zone, if one or two cases were found there and it could be opened again after treating it with disinfectants.Â
Seeking action against the Kullu SP, Agnihotri alleged that the police officer had no right to declare any premises containment without seeking any order from the District Magistrate.
Replying to the issue Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said that the earlier leader of Opposition highlighted similar issues belonging to MLA Sunder Singh Thakur. He informed that people belonging to BJP had not lodged protest outside the MLA house and were not involved in demolition, as action was taken against him on the High Court order as the parking and gate of MLA’s house were found to be illegal and encroached.
Thakur alleged that MLA along with ten other Congress workers sat on Dharna inside the SP office and the premise were closed after ASI of SP office Ajeet Kumar was tested positive.Â
Thakur said that MLA was seeking arrest of former MP Maheshwer Singh and did not vacate the premises as it was required to be sanitised.Â
Chief Minister defending the action state police said that Congress is trying to equate this issue with the demolition of Kangna Ranut at Mumbai which could not be compared. Â
Thakur said that he has directed the administration to assure the security of MLA and no protests would be allowed outside the office or residence of MLA and it is not a good practice. Defending BJP workers’ protests at Kullu Chief Minister said that they are lodging peaceful protests outside the Congress district office which is near the residence of MLA.
Congress members protested over the Chief Minister’s reply alleging that MLAs could not be confined to the SP office when house is in session and they walked out from the assembly in protest. Â
