Din in HP Assembly over CM's alleged anti-Sikh remarks

Shimla, Mar 29 (UNI) Himachal Pradesh Speaker G R Musafir today turned down an Opposition demand for calling attention motion on alleged remarks by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh against the Sikh community on March 14.

The Speaker ruled out granting the request, saying the Chief Minister had denied having made any such remark and he himself was unable to find any record of the remarks against any community by the Chief Minister in the proceedings of the House.

Earlier, the state Assembly began on a stormy note with the BJP members resorting to slogan shouting and protesting against some alleged the remarks made the by Chief Minister against the Sikh community in the House.

Immediately after the Question Hour, Hari Narain Saini (BJP) raised the issue in the House alleging that Mr Singh had made some objectionable remarks against the Sikh community in general and against him in particular.

Intervening in the issue, state Parliamentary Affairs Kaul Singh Thakur said the BJP member might have had some misunderstanding and stressed that the Chief Minister was known for his politeness and use of polished language in the House as well as for showing respect to all the communities.

Asserting that there was no question of the CM having ever said anything against the Sikh community, Mr Thakur made an counter-charge that the BJP member was apparently upset with the Transport Department's decision to acquire his land in Nalagarh-Baddi industrial belt for construction of a bus-stand and so he was flaring up a non-issue.

UNI