(Tribune)
Stating that he had respect for all MLAs whether from the ruling or the Opposition, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur today said it would have been nice if the Congress too had extended the respect to BJP legislators and not insulted them while in power.The issue of upholding the dignity of the institution of the MLAs came up for discussion during Question Hour. Kinnaur MLA Jagat Singh Negi accused the government of acting with political vendetta by appointing the Kinnaur DC as the Chairman of the Local Area Development Authority (LADA), instead of the local MLA, a practice that followed in the past.The CM said he could quote several instances where foundation stones put up during the BJP regime were broken and Opposition legislators insulted during the CM’s function but still he was against weakening the institution of MLAs. “This is not a healthy practice of belittling the MLAs, be it from any party, and I too feel the need to make a new beginning to respect the dignity of a legislator,” he said.
