Himachal Pradesh Assembly Erupts over Unemployment: BJP Stages Walkout

Himachal Pradesh Assembly Erupts over Unemployment: BJP Stages Walkout

Dharamsala (Arvind Sharma)22/12/23

The Himachal Pradesh Assembly on Friday witnessed a tumultuous session as the opposition BJP staged a walkout, expressing outrage over the state’s unemployment issue and accusing the ruling Congress of broken promises. The BJP’s claim that despite promising to create one lakh jobs at its first Cabinet meeting, the Congress government instead terminated 10,000 outsourced employees, many of whom served during the pandemic and haven’t been paid for months.

Led by Leader of the Opposition Jai Ram Thakur, the BJP sought an adjournment motion under Rule 67 to discuss the dire unemployment situation. Accusing the government of blatant hypocrisy, Thakur highlighted the plight of terminated employees, including healthcare workers who fought on the frontline during COVID-19, left unpaid for months, and now jobless.

Responding to the BJP’s demand, Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania tried to quell the dissent by offering flexibility. He expressed readiness to discuss the issue both the following day through an adjournment motion and under Rule 130, allowing broader policy discussions.

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu attempted to address the BJP’s charges. However, his defense was quickly drowned out by a rising chorus of protest slogans from the opposition benches. Frustrated by the lack of an opportunity to be heard, the BJP MLAs collectively rose and staged a walkout, demonstrating their unwavering disapproval of the government’s actions.