Shimla, Aug. 19 -- Dissatisfied with the State government's reply on the Himcare scheme in the state Assembly on Tuesday, the Opposition staged a noisy protest and walked out, accusing the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led Congress government of dismantling the free healthcare facility started by the previous BJP regime.

The uproar began during the Question Hour when BJP MLA Vinod Kumar raised the issue, alleging that under the Himcare scheme, people were not receiving treatment benefits in hospitals and were being forced to mortgage their mangalsutras to pay for medical expenses. "When questions are asked, the government says the scheme is running, but the reality in hospitals is completely different," he charged.

Responding to the allegation...