Refrain from political statement of disqualification idependent MLAs

Shimla, Mar 9 (UNI) Five independent Himachal Pradesh MLAs today asked the BJP's chief whip, Ravinder Ravi, to refrain from making political statements on their disqualification from the assembly.

Addressing a press conference here, the legislators Kuldeep Singh Pathania and Rakesh Verma said Mr Ravi should not make political statements on the issue every now and then, as it is legal and technical issue.

''We caution the BJP to not to accrue any political mileage from the issue as the matter is already before the Speaker,'' said Mr Pathania who was accompanied by the other five MLA's.

The BJP has sought the disqualification of the five independent MLA's who have become associate members of the Congress from the assembly on grounds of defection under Section two of the tenth schedule of the Constitution.

''There is no maintainability of their petition as we have not joined the Congress party but ultimately it is the Speaker who would decide the petition,'' maintained Mr Pathania.

Denying they had joined the Congress party, the MLA's said they were simply associated with the Congress.

The authority to decide all such matters vests only with the Speaker and by making statements that the BJP would knock the doors of the court on the issue amounts to insinuating the office of the Speaker, Mr Pathania added.

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