Ahead of Himachal Assembly’s winter session, BJP boycotts all-party meeting

No one from the BJP attended the all-party meeting called by HP Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania at the Assembly complex here on Tuesday.

Leader of the Opposition in the Vidhan Sabha Jai Ram Thakur, who was supposed to attend the meeting, cited ill-health for staying away. The meeting was called by the Speaker to resolve differences between the Opposition and the ruling party to ensure smooth conduct of the winter session of the Assembly from December 18 to 21.

Among others, the meeting was attended by Minister for Industries and Parliamentary Affairs Harshwardhan Chauhan. Talking to mediapersons, the Speaker said it was unfortunate that the Leader of the Opposition chose to stay away from the

meeting called by him for the smooth conduct of the session. On his part, Jai Ram said he could not attend the meeting as he was not well. “I was not feeling well so I was forced to skip the meeting. The Opposition will raise the issues pertaining to the people of state in the Assembly,” he added.

Meanwhile, CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu arrived here in the evening. He said the Opposition had been resorting to walk-outs during Assembly sessions. “I want to appeal to them to participate in the proceedings of the House. The Opposition should not run away from debating the issues in the Assembly,” he said.