INLD boycotts Haryana assembly for rest of session

Chandigarh, Sep 18 (UNI) The Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) today decided to boycott the rest of the monsoon session of the Haryana Vidhan Sabha in protest against the 'uncooperative' attitude of Speaker Raghbir Singh Kadian towards the Opposition.

The INLD, which interrupted the assembly proceedings on the second day of the session this morning during zero hour after not being permitted to raise the law and order issue, staged a walkout from the House.

''We have decided to boycott the House for the remaining part of the session due to the attitude of the Speaker'', INLD president and former chief minister O P Chautala later said while addressing mediapersons outside the House. The three day session comes to a close tomorrow, unless a decision is taken today or tomorrow to extend it.

Earlier INLD members Dr Sita Ram and Sushil Indora were on their feet when Karan Singh Dalal (Cong) moved a call attention motion during zero hour to discuss the acute shortage of irrigation water in the state. They demanded that the House first discuss the law and order situation in the state.

However the Speaker in his ruling contended that no other discussion could be permitted as a member had moved a call attention motion and was highlighting a very important issue. This led to protests from the INLD members who demanded that their issue should be taken up first.

When Irrigation Minister Capt Ajay Singh Yadav rose to reply to the call attention motion, the INLD members kept interrupting him.

When during the course of his reply Capt Yadav brought up the Satluj Yamuna Link (SYL) canal issue, O P Chautala rose to his feet and said that the minister was misleading the House.

This brought the other members of the INLD on their feet and they joined Mr Chautala in protesting against the Irrigation Minister. The Speaker attempted to restore order in the House and asked the INLD members to take their seats as an important issue was being discussed.

However disregarding the Speakers pleas, the INDL led by Mr Chautala walked out of the the House. Later after a hurried meeting the INLD decided to boycott the rest of the session.

UNI