BJP stages walkout on January 29 clash between BJYM and Youth Congress workers

SHIMLA: The opposition BJP today staged a walkout in Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha to protest against "in action on part of the government" against the youth Congress workers who allegedly attack the party office on January 29 last.

Raising the issue through a point of order immediately after the question hour, Suresh Bharadwaj (BJP) said that the government was not even investigating the issue.

While the Speaker told the BJP members not to raise the same issue time and again, stating that the matter was sub-judice, the BJP members said the matter was not sub-judice but the government was not inclined to take action against the culprits.

The BJP members alleged that the state government had not taken any action against the culprits involved in the incident in which one BJP leader suffered irreparable loss to his eye and staged a walkout.

Accusing the BJP members of forcing a non-issue, chief minister Virbhadra Singh said that an enquiry has been ordered and investigations are in progress and they should wait for the report first.

Earlier, Bhardwaj raised the issue of chief minister's remark in the assembly on March 31, where in Singh had commented that the BJP members were non-serious (on their walk out) and they should not be entitled to get Daily Allowance.

The BJP members said the chief minister had denied having made such remark yesterday, but it was recorded in the proceedings.

On this, the CM withdrew the remark. Earlier replying to a question by BJP members, chief minister said that out of 16 new degree colleges notified in HP during the present Congress regime, 14 had started functioning last year and the remaining two colleges would be made functional from ensuing academic session (2015-16).

He said all these colleges were opened in the interior areas of the state, immensely benefitting the girl students and a budget of Rs 5-crore was provided for each new college.

He said while some teachers had been posted in these colleges, the government had given requisition to the HP Public Service Commission for selection of teachers (college cadre) against 248 posts to fill up vacancies.