CM Dhami should take initiative to break the impasse: Experts
Gajendra Singh Negi/ Dehradun
The deadlock between the Pushkar Singh Dhami government and the Congress party over the boycott of the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) of the house continues even as the important Budget session of Uttarakhand Vidhan Sabha is set to commence from Monday at summer capital Gairsain.
The BAC decides the business and other proceedings of the house and comprises leader of the house (chief minister), leader of the opposition in Vidhan Sabha, parliamentary affairs minister and senior members of the house. The LoP Yashpal Arya and Congress MLA from Chakrata Pritam Singh had resigned from the BAC during the Monsoon session of Vidhan Sabha held at Bharadisain, Gairsain last year. Following their resignation the meetings of the BAC of the house are being held without any representation of the Congress which is the principal opposition party in the State. Both these leaders have averred that they will not take back their resignation in protest against the dictatorial attitude of the government. The experts believe that such a situation does not augur well for parliamentary democracy and the State government should take an initiative to break the impasse as the responsibility of running the house lies primarily on the ruling party.
Former secretary of Uttarakhand Vidhan Sabha, Jagdish Chandra told The Pioneer that the chief minister who also is the leader of the house and parliamentary affairs minister should persuade the Congress members to take back their resignations and join BAC in the interest of parliamentary democracy.
When contacted, the LoP Yashpal Arya told The Pioneer that the Congress will continue to boycott the meeting of the BAC of the house. He said that the government wants to run the BAC on the basis of its majority and gives no consideration to the opinion of the opposition. He said that the government has no interest in running the house and defying tradition and norms it has decided to table the budget on the very first day of the session which is reserved solely for the address of the governor. “ We had demanded that the budget session should be of at least 21 days for discussions on the important issues of the State and to ensure that the members get a chance to ask questions on the departments headed by the chief minister but the government has again convened a very short session,’’ he said.
Chakrata MLA, Pritam Singh said that the BJP has no faith in democracy and constitution. He said that the government is shying away from facing the opposition members in the house.
When contacted by The Pioneer, the Parliamentary Affairs minister Subodh Uniyal expressed hope that the Congress members will respect the parliamentary traditions and will attend the meetings of the BAC of the house.
