he monsoon session of the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly began today amid a major uproar. Shortly after the proceedings commenced, slogans were raised by the ruling party and the Opposition over the national song, Vande Mataram.
As the uproar intensified, Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania adjourned the House till 11 a.m. tomorrow. On the first day of the session, the proceedings could continue for only about 12 minutes.
The proceedings on the first day of the monsoon session began with the National Anthem. Thereafter, BJP legislators started raising slogans demanding that the national song, Vande Mataram, be sung in the House. During this, members and ministers of the ruling party also stood at their seats and raised slogans.
As the commotion intensified, Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania appealed to the members to maintain order in the House.
He said that there is a tradition and rule in the Assembly that the session begins with the National Anthem and concludes with the national song. He said the Himachal Pradesh Assembly functions according to its own rules.
According to the Assembly Speaker, in the Lok Sabha and several other legislatures, there is a practice of beginning the session with the National Anthem and concluding it with the national song.
He said the Opposition started creating a ruckus as soon as the proceedings began, leaving him with no option but to adjourn the House.
BJP MLA Vipin Singh Parmar, on behalf of the Opposition, accused the Congress of disrespecting the national song. He said BJP legislators had made a humble request for Vande Mataram to be sung in the House, but permission was not granted.
Parmar accused the Congress of not being serious about respecting the national song.