AICC session on Dec 18
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, Dec 3 — The All-India Congress Committee will hold a session here on December 18 to consider the present political developments in the wake of the recent Assembly elections.

The decision to hold a session of the AICC was taken at an emergency meeting of the Congress Working Committee which met here at the party headquarters this evening.

Briefing media persons after the deliberations of the CWC, the party said the CWC will meet here on December 18.

The CWC meeting which was called to discuss the amendments to the constitution of the AICC was said to be inconclusive.

The meeting was to consider, among other things, the report of the Karunakaran Committee which suggested changes in the constitution of the AICC in the light of deliberations at the Pachmarhi session of the party.

Among other things was to increase the limit of office-bearers from the present two years to three years.

Senior CWC member Arjun Singh who briefed the media said the CWC discussions remained inconclusive and the body was expected to meet later.

Pandemonium in HP House
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Dec 3 — Pandemonium prevailed on the opening day of the winter session of the Vidhan Sabha today when Congress members insisted that they be allowed to discuss the issues of "deteriorating" law and order and rising prices.

Raising anti-government slogans, Congress members tried to block the proceedings immediately after obituary references to three former Members of the House.

The Speaker, Thakur Gulab Singh, however, continued with the business and repeatedly asked the Congress members to maintain order and allow smooth transaction of the business. The Congress members defied his rulings and kept chanting slogans.

Pandemonium started when the Congress Legislature Party leader, Mr Virbhadra Singh, urged the Speaker to suspend the business and allow a discussion on the issues of deteriorating law and order and rising prices both issues about which people were more concerned.

The Treasury benches protested against the demand and asked the Opposition Congress members to allow uninterrupted transaction of the business.

The Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal and the Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Mr J.P. Nadda, criticised Mr Virbhadra Singh for obstructing proceedings and violating the decorum of the House. Mr Dhumal moved a resolution criticising Mr Virbhadra Singh for "defying" the chair.

The Congress members remained on their feet and chanted slogans as the House went ahead with the listed business. However, nothing was audible in the din.

None of the Congress members came forward to ask the questions which were listed for the day.

The Speaker ruled that any point could be raised with permission of the chair only after the question hour had finished. However, the Congress members insisted that they should be allowed to initiate a discussion on the two issues. Mr Virbhadra Singh said that the issues of "deteriorating" law and order and rising prices were very serious and a discussion should be allowed. He quoted certain rules which he claimed provided for suspending the normal business.

The Chief Minister said that the government would have replied to each and every issue raised by Congress members, had they allowed uninterrupted proceedings of the House. They probably were interested only in obstructing the proceedings, he said.

Mr Nadda said that Mr Virbhadra Singh should remember that while being Chief Minister he always asked the Opposition members to maintain the rich traditions of the House, but today he himself was not allowing the business to be conducted smoothly.Earlier, the Speaker administered the oath to Mr Dulo Ram, the newly elected Member from Baijnath.

The House paid homage to three former members, Mr Hari Singh, Mr Guler Chand and Mr Tara Chand who died recently.