By IANS,
Shimla : The opposition Congress lawmakers Friday stalled the proceedings of the Himachal Pradesh assembly for almost an hour and then staged a walk-out over the issue of 6,500 teachers who are demanding regularisation of their services.
Congress legislators disrupted the proceedings and sought a debate on the issue. They said the government used force Thursday to disperse the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) teachers who were protesting outside the assembly.
The teachers’ appointed during the tenure of the previous Congress government on the recommendations of the Parent-Teacher Association in various schools are referred to as PTA teachers.
The teachers are demanding regularisation of their services.
As soon as question hour ended, Leader of the Opposition Vidya Stokes demanded that the adjournment motion moved by the opposition be allowed.
Speaker Tulsi Ram said: “It is under my consideration.”
This agitated the Congress legislators who trooped into the well and began raising anti-government slogans.
They demanded action against police personnel who cane-charged the teachers. The speaker asked them to calm down and pay attention to proceedings of the house.
“Your protest has been lodged and now come to seats,” the speaker said.
Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister J.P. Nadda tried to pacify the opposition members, but in vain.
Later, the Congress legislators staged a walkout from the assembly.
“About 6,500 PTA teachers, who were appointed by the previous Congress government, are not our employees. Their jobs will not be regularised. The government is conducting an inquiry into their appointment. The government can even employ new teachers,” Dhumal said.
Dhumal also denied that the teachers were cane-charged while protesting outside the Vidhan Sabha or the state assembly Thursday.
The five-day monsoon session ended Friday.