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All India Presiding Officers’ Conference: Agnihotri draws attention to declining legislative values
Leader of Opposition in Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha Mukesh Agnihotri said all the responsibilities of democracy within the House rest on the discretion of the presiding officers
Drawing attention to the dilapidation in the legislative values and practices, leader of Opposition in Himachal Pradesh assembly Mukesh Agnihotri on Wednesday stressed on the need to preserve the parliamentary decorum and highest traditions.
He was speaking at the All India Presiding Officers’ Conference at Shimla. Addressing Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Agnihotri said no doubt that the presiding officers come from political parties, but this is the speciality of Indian democracy that they don’t have any party. “All the responsibilities of democracy within the House rest on the discretion of the presiding officers. Democracy runs on traditions and beliefs, so there is a need to look into the challenges and concerns being faced by them today,” he added.
He also spoke about growing malpractice of hiding information from the house of legislatures. He said that anti-defection has become a law, but there are many misconceptions about it. Many cases are pending in courts which puts Indian democracy in the dock, he added.
HP Congress to launch mega membership drive on Indira Gandhi’s birth anniversary
Himachal Congress will launch a mega membership drive on November 19, the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, in the run up to 2022 general assembly elections in the state, HPCC chief Kuldeep Singh Rathore said on Wednesday.
Addressing a press conference here, Rathore said the exercise has not been conducted for last more than six years. Congress workers will be engaged in membership drive at booth level which will run for next three months, he added.
He said the Congress has drawn a roadmap for the 2022 elections besides a campaign to expose the government’s propaganda. I am holding foot march in 22 assembly constituencies and have seen a good response.
He said the Congress has launched a ‘Jan Jagran Abhiyan’ under which its leaders are going among the public to make them aware of the failures of the government.
“Today, every section of the society, be it youth, women, employees, farmers or Dalits, is facing repression under the current regime and wants to get rid of the BJP government,” he said.
