Uproar in HP House as BJP demands CM's resignation over money laundering case

Shimla, Aug 7: Himachal Pradesh Assembly witnessed uproarious scene today as opposition BJP MLAs clamoured for Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh's resignation in the wake of the Centre's submission in Delhi High Court that a prima facie case of money laundering appeared to be made out against him, forcing the Speaker to adjourn the House for the day.

Soon after the House assembled for the second day of the Monsoon Session, BJP members Mohinder Singh and Rajiv Bindal were on their feet and asked Speaker B B L Butail about the fate of their notice for an adjournment motion and wanted immediate discussion on it.

Mohinder said the Chief Minister "has no moral right to continue" in office till he comes out clean in the money laundering case.

"He had to resign from the Union cabinet when charges of corruption were levelled against him but why is he silent now?" Mohinder asked. The Speaker said he had rejected the opposition MLAs' notice as the matter was sub-judice, and added that "we have no right to discuss the issue".

Agitated with the Speaker's reply and rejection of their plea for a discussion on the issue, BJP MLAs started shouting slogans and demanded the chief minister's resignation. The Chief Minister read out a statement amid uproarious scenes and accused the BJP of "trying to draw unnecessary inferences from the court proceedings, which is uncalled for".

Maintaining that it would not be proper for him or anybody else to make any comment on the proceedings in the court, he said, "I would advise my friends from the BJP to allow the law to take its own course."

The chief minister requested the opposition MLAs to let the business of the House be carried out in the larger public interest. The Speaker, however, adjourned the House for the day in less than 10 minutes after it assembled as the BJP members refused to relent.

Later talking to reporters, the chief minister reiterated his charge that an attempt is being made to frame him in false cases. "I think a section in the central government is involved in this exercise, but I don't want to name them. I will fight out the case in court," he said.

PTI