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Saturday, May 17, 2008
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BJP flays Opposition behaviour in Uttarakhand House

Staff Correspondent

DEHRA DUN: The entire opposition Congress and three members of the Bahujan Samaj Party sat in the Uttarakhand Vidhan Sabha here on Friday with black cloth tied round their mouths to protest against alleged curtailment of their right of expression.

All this went on even as the House discussed the unruly behaviour of the Congress and BSP members in which the tables of the House rapporteurs were overturned this past Monday.

Quoting profusely from the Constitution and rulings of Parliament, Munna Singh Chauhan, Har Bhajan Singh Cheema, Asha Nautiyal and several others of the ruling BJP described Monday’s incidents as unprecedented as nowhere had the officials assisting the conduct of the House been subjected to such violence or humiliation or an attempt made to damage the Speaker’s desk.

“The act amounts to breach of privilege of the House including the supporting staff and the Speaker should exercise his powers and give exemplary punishment to all those who had indulged in ‘goondaism’ so that such practices were not replicated,” Mr. Chauhan said.

Health Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank wondered what the Opposition had gained by Monday’s act or by tying black cloth round their mouths. The Opposition could have participated in a fruitful discussion on the Universities Bill they are opposing and the Government would have been too happy to incorporate their suggestions before passing it, he said.

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