HP Assembly adjourns over row on CM's asset

Pandemonium prevailed in Himachal Pradesh legislative assembly on Friday as opposition BJP created ruckus demanding discussion on share holdings of family members of Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh in a private firm.

The issue generated heat during Question Hour with BJP members raising slogans and trooping into the Well forcing the Chair to adjourn the House for the day. 

As soon as the House met for the day and Speaker Brij Bihari Lal Butail took up first listed question, Rikhi Ram Kaundal (BJP) was on his legs and wanted to know the fate of the notice for adjournment motion moved by 14 BJP members to discuss the matter that had appeared in newspapers. 

When the Speaker said that he would look into the notice before giving his ruling, agitated BJP members stood up and started raising slogans. They later rushed to the Well. 

Ravinder Ravi (BJP) said that allegation that the Chief Minister's wife, son and daughter and an Office on Special Duty (OSD) hold shares in the Tarini Infrastructure Ltd Company was a serious matter which warrants discussion. 

He said while Tarini, daughter of Vakamullah, in whose name the company was registered, held 1.40 lakh shares, Chief Minister's wife and daughter has 3.40 lakh shares each 3-lakh shares held by his son.

He accused the government of running away from the debate on the issue.

Health and Family Affairs Minister Kaul Singh Thakur said the company was registered and legally anyone can have shares in the company.

Later, when the Speaker rejected their Notice, BJP members, led by former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal dashed to the Well shouting slogans. Amid din, the Speaker adjourned the House for the day.

The day's sitting was over in just over one hour. It is for the second time during the winter session that BJP brought adjournment motion. 

On the opening day, BJP had clubbed the issue of personal allegations against the Chief Minister and failures in different schemes together in its notice and the Speaker had rejected it, saying rules did not permit clubbing of different issues.