Shimla, December 18: The winter session of the Himachal Pradesh Assembly began with heated debates and disruptions on Wednesday, as the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) raised concerns over alleged corruption and financial irregularities during the state’s two-year governance. The BJP demanded a discussion on an adjournment motion regarding these allegations, which was approved by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu.
The motion, submitted by BJP members Randhir Sharma, Balbir Singh Verma, and Surendra Shourie, sought to address accusations of corruption and scams in various departments. However, the motion did not provide any formal evidence of the claims. Despite this, Chief Minister Sukhu agreed to suspend all other legislative proceedings to facilitate the discussion.
BJP MLA Randhir Sharma initiated the debate, accusing the ruling party of involvement in several financial irregularities, particularly in relation to the liquor scam. He further alleged that the state government had used its power to favor certain officials and political leaders, enabling corrupt practices. Sharma demanded that an investigation into these issues be launched immediately.
In response, Chief Minister Sukhu challenged the BJP to present concrete proof to back up their claims, emphasizing the importance of providing documentation to support such serious accusations. At 12:30 pm, the Assembly was briefly adjourned for a 10-minute break. Upon resumption, Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania reaffirmed the gravity of the corruption allegations, stressing that the entire House would focus on the issue. He urged the opposition to ensure that all evidence related to the allegations be submitted for review.
BJP’s Balbir Singh Verma also participated in the debate, reiterating the charges of corruption and questioning the government’s handling of various departments. The session was then adjourned for lunch at 1 pm, with the ongoing debate set to continue after the break.