DW BUREAU / Shimla The budget session of Himachal Pradesh Assembly began on Wednesday with the Opposition Congress walking out of the House amidst Governor Rajendra Vishvanath Arlekar's address on the first day. Forty minutes after the Governor's address began, the Congress Legislature Party led by Mukesh Agnihotri was on toes, alleging that the Governor's address did not have any content other than praising the state government. The Congress members termed the Governor's address a bundle of lies and walked out of the House in protest. Arlekar, who was addressing the HP Assembly for the first time in his tenure as Governor, said the state government was thankful to the Central government for providing financial support through 'Pradhan Mantri Gareeb Kalyan Yojana' and 'Atam Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan' and other welfare schemes to help out people in the midst of Covid-19 pandemic. He said Himachal Pradesh became the first state to achieve cent per cent coverage of both the doses of Covid vaccination. He said the Prime Minister had also lauded the state for meeting the targets in this regard. The Governor said the state government had been working sincerely and honestly to strengthen the economy of Himachal and taking the state to the top in different sectors. He referred to the state's initiative on Prakritik Kheti Khushhal Kisan Yojana and said 1.60 lakh farmers in Himachal Pradesh have adopted the low cost natural farming technique by shedding the use of chemicals in agriculture. He said the initiative is aimed at doubling the farmers' income and listed other agriculture schemes also, which are being implemented for overall upliftment in the agriculture sector. The Governor talked about other development schemes started by the state government in different sectors for the welfare of people. He spoke for more than one and a half hours in the Assembly. (editor@dailyworld.in)