Congress stages protest over inflation outside Himachal Assembly; Dy CM Agnihotri accuses BJP of disrupting House

Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], August 25 (ANI): Congress MLAs and ministers staged a protest outside the Himachal Pradesh Assembly on Monday, the fourth day of the Monsoon Session, over the issue of inflation.
Himachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri, speaking to the media, said the Congress was in favour of the Assembly functioning and accused the BJP of arriving with an intention to disrupt the proceedings.
Agnihotri said, "The Congress party is in favour of the Assembly session proceeding. We want the Assembly to function. However, you can see the opposition's attitude; they are never in favour of running the House, and they have arrived today with the same intent to ensure the House does not function."
He added, "Our Parliamentary Affairs Minister has been repeatedly requesting and stating that we want to run the House. The BJP, currently the opposition, is working against Himachal's interests."
Meanwhile, on Monday BJP legislators staged a protest on the premises of the Himachal Pradesh Assembly, alleging large-scale and "organised corruption" under the Congress government and accusing the state government of avoiding discussions on issues of public importance.
Speaking to reporters in Shimla during the protest, Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur said the BJP wanted the Assembly to function and raise issues concerning unemployment, corruption, law and order and healthcare, but alleged that the government was trying to evade discussions.
Thakur also said the BJP had submitted a written complaint to the Shimla police seeking registration of an FIR against Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Pawan Khera over his alleged "indecent" remarks against Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

He said BJP leaders approached the Additional Superintendent of Police, Shimla, as the SP was not available at the time, and submitted evidence along with the complaint.
"The kind of language used by Pawan Khera against the Union Home Minister is not appropriate. Such language is not merely against an individual but against the person holding the constitutional office of the Union Home Minister," Thakur said.
The BJP's protest came amid continuing political confrontation between the ruling Congress and opposition BJP during the Monsoon Session of the Himachal Pradesh Assembly, with both sides accusing each other of obstructing legislative proceedings. (ANI)