HP assembly: Opposition disrupts session, seeks SP’s removal

SHIMLA: Congress legislators continued to disrupt the House proceedings during the question hour on Tuesday, demanding the suspension or shifting of the Una SP for arresting personal security officer, personal assistant and driver of party MLA from Una, Satpal Raizada for alleged assault on cops on duty and helping the liquor mafia. Chief minister Jai Ram Thakur had proposed to get the matter probed by CID under the supervision of an inspector general of police (IG), but Congress MLAs were not satisfied and raised slogans inside the House before staging a walkout.
As soon as speaker Rajeev Bindal entered the House, opposition leader Mukesh Agnihotri demanded a discussion on the issue in the House. Agnihtori said mining mafia was in the background of tussle between the MLA and the SP. He said 1,000 truck loads of mining material went out of Una every day and accused the SP of trying to trap the MLA.
Clarifying his comment made in the House, to which the opposition had objected to, the chief minister said he had only said that it was never considered that for patronizing mafia, legislators would come to this level. He said his government was not against the institution of MLAs. Stating that neither had a case been registered against Raizada nor was it a case of vendetta, Thakur said that to resolve the matter with complete transparency, all should unite to fight against mafia. He added that after liquor was seized, action was initiated against the mafia, not the MLA.
He said the Una SP would be disassociated from the probe and an inquiry conducted by the CID under the supervision of IG within 15 days. If the SP is found guilty, departmental proceedings would also be initiated against him, the CM added.
However, the opposition leaders refused to relent and raised slogans before staging a walkout.