The Monsoon session of the state assembly began on a stormy note on Tuesday, with the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) seeking discussion on deteriorating law and order situation in Himachal Pradesh and ‘Gudia’ case.

The House was adjourned for 15 minutes first when BJP members remained adamant with their demand for ‘adjournment motion’ to discuss law and order situation in HP immediately after obituary references.

When it re-assembled, Speaker Brij Bihari Lal Butail started with the day’s business. The opposition MLAs, however, refused to budge again and came to the well of the House in protest, raising loud slogans against the government. In the midst of ruckus for 15 minutes, the Speaker adjourned the House for the day.

Immediately as the obituary references for former MLA, Sadanand Chauhan, who died recently, and the Mandi landslide victims finished and the Speaker was about to announce the start of Question Hour, BJP member (Shimla), Suresh Bhardwaj inquired about notices of BJP MLAs for an adjournment motion on deteriorating law and order situation in HP.

Referring to the ‘Gudia’ gangrape and murder case, Bhardwaj said the government was sheltering the culprits involved in the ghastly crime and no action was taken on the erring Police officials in Shimla district.

He said it was serious that some pictures were uploaded on the Chief Minister’s Facebook page with regard to Gudia case and then they disappeared. He said almost every day, alarming reports of crime were coming from different parts of HP.

On this, the Speaker said he had got the notices of some BJP MLAs on the issue and he had informed the government about the matter. He said when he gets the government reply, he would allow discussion on the issue.

Parliamentary affairs minister, Mukesh Agnihotri said ‘Gudia’ case was sub-judice and no discussion could be held on the issue in the House. Infuriated the BJP MLAs, Randhir Sharma, Rajeev Bindal and Ravinder Ravi were on their legs and said the opposition was demanding discussion on the overall law and order situation. They referred to the mysterious death of forest Hoshiar Singh in Karsog, the rape of minors in Kullu and Tissa and double murder in Rohroo in this regard.

Health minister, Kaul Singh Thakur said the High Court had given the Gudia case for the probe to CBI, and everyone should wait for that.

Leader of Opposition, Prem Kumar Dhumal said the main responsibility of any government is to provide secure environs for people to live.  He said the present government had failed and there was no other issue bigger for discussion other than this at the moment. “There can’t be a bigger question than this today,” he said. Dhumal said the Gudia case was not sub-judice and the media was reporting everything about the CBI probe.

Dhumal said there were so many doubts about the state Police and government’s role in ‘Gudia’ case, and the government should clarify them in the House.