Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], August 22 : On the second day of the Monsoon Session of the Himachal Pradesh Assembly, the Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, along with his Cabinet colleagues and Congress MLAs, staged a protest outside the Assembly on Saturday, accusing BJP legislators of disrespecting the national anthem during the proceedings on the opening day.
The Congress legislators raised slogans in support of the national anthem and alleged that BJP MLAs had raised slogans invoking Vande Mataram while the national anthem was being played and sung in the House on Friday.
Speaking to reporters, Sukhu said the BJP's objection during the national anthem had angered people across Himachal Pradesh and alleged that such an incident had never occurred in the state Assembly before.
"Yesterday, the BJP MLAs and the BJP legislature party objected when the national anthem was being sung. The entire Himachal Pradesh is angry over this. The national anthem has never been disrespected like this before," Sukhu said.
He said Congress MLAs had decided to march to the Assembly to uphold the dignity and respect of the national anthem.
Sukhu said both the national anthem and the national song have their own importance and respect, but maintained that the decision on when each should be sung rests with the Speaker and must be taken according to established parliamentary traditions.
"The national anthem was played on the directions of the Speaker. When the national anthem is being sung, raising the issue of singing the national song in between is not appropriate. Both have their own respect, but the decision on when they should be sung has to be taken by the Speaker according to parliamentary traditions," he said.
The Chief Minister demanded that the BJP MLAs apologise and express regret over the alleged incident.
He, however, said the Congress was entering the Assembly with the intention of ensuring that the House functions smoothly.
Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri also appealed to legislators to maintain the traditions and dignity of the Assembly.
He said the ongoing session had been scheduled as a long session precisely to allow adequate time for discussion and legislative business, and urged all members not to waste the time of the House.
Agnihotri accused the BJP of attempting to derive political advantage from the issue and divert public attention from matters such as corruption and alleged paper leaks.
"We want the House to function. The Congress legislators want the Assembly to run and parliamentary traditions and dignity to be maintained," Agnihotri said.
The confrontation comes amid a political dispute between the ruling Congress and the BJP over the singing of the national anthem and Vande Mataram during the first day's proceedings of the Monsoon Session.