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Leader of Opposition, 4 Cong MLAs suspended for rest of Budget session over manhandling of HP Governor

YB WEB DESK. Dated: 2/27/2021 11:31:15 AM

New Delhi, Feb 26 The Leader of the Opposition and other Congress MLAs were suspended on Friday after they allegedly manhandled Himachal Pradesh Governor Bandaru Dattatraya when he was leaving the assembly. Bandaru Dattatraya was allegedly manhandled after his address on the opening day of the Budget Session. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Suresh Bhardwaj said the governor was manhandled when he was going to his vehicle after the session and moved a motion to suspend five Congress MLAs -- Leader of the Opposition Mukesh Agnihotri and MLAs Harsh Vardhan Chauhan, Sunder Singh Thakur, Satpal Raizada and Vinay Kumar. The Himachal Pradesh assembly, which was adjourned till 2 pm on Monday, was reconvened at 1 pm on Friday to consider the motion moved by Suresh Bhardwaj. Earlier in the day, Governor Bandaru Dattatraya could read only the last line of his address amid a ruckus by members of the opposition Congress. Around 11 am, as soon as the House assembled, the Congress members led by LoP Mukesh Agnihotri rose from their seats and raised slogans. Amid the chaos, the Governor read the last line of his address and stated that the entire speech should be deemed as read. Congress members alleged that the content of the address was "a bundle of lies" and said the issue of increase in cooking gas, petrol, and diesel prices was not included. Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur condemned the behaviour of the Congress members in the House and said it was uncalled for.