DW BUREAU / Shimla

The rebellion by the six Congress legislators who "sold their souls" for their vested interests would be remembered as a "black chapter" in the history of the state, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said on Monday.

The MLAs -- Sudhir Sharma, Ravi Thakur, Rajinder Rana, Inder Dutt Lakhanpal, Chetanya Sharma and Devinder Kumar Bhutto -- had cross-voted in the Rajya Sabha election for the lone seat in Himachal Pradesh, leading to the defeat of the Congress' official candidate Abhishek Manu Singhvi.

Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania later disqualified the six MLAs for allegedly defying a party whip on voting for the state Budget in the assembly.

Addressing a public gathering at Indora in Himachal's Kangra district, the CM said the disqualified MLAs were being escorted by the central security agencies, but won't be able to face the people of their constituencies.

"Their actions will be remembered as a black chapter in the history of the state. They sold their souls for their vested interests," Sukhu said.

Terming the BJP as a "power hungry" party, he said the people will never forget and forgive the attempts by the saffron party to topple the democratically elected government in Himachal Pradesh by using 'dhan bal' (money power).

"Some people have become addicted to power and as a result, they have betrayed the mandate of the people by resorting to evil attempts to topple the state government", he said.

Addressing another public meeting in Chowari in Chamba on Monday, the CM said, "It is not the culture of Himachal Pradesh to betray. The people here are honest but when a public representative sells his integrity, he has to face the brunt of the people".

He said an attempt was made to overthrow the Congress government in the state during the budget session wherein several important bills were to be passed for the benefit of the people.

He also lauded Pathania for performing his constitutional duties in a befitting manner and upholding the democratic values in their true perspective.

Pathania's name has been etched in the annals of history for shielding the democratically elected government according to constitutional norms, despite every effort by the opposition to snatch power.

The chief minister also unveiled and laid the foundation stone of 14 development projects worth Rs 143 crore in the Indora constituency in Kangra and nine development projects worth Rs 75 crore in Bhattiyat in Chamba district.
(editor@dailyworld.in)