India, Feb. 16 -- Himachal Pradesh governor Shiv Pratap Shukla on Monday skipped reading the customary governor's address at the start of the budget session of the assembly.

"I don't think I should read it," Shukla remarked, specifically pointing out that the prepared text contained "comments on a constitutional institution". While he addressed the House for barely a few minutes, he noted that the remainder of the speech detailed the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led Congress government's past and future achievements, which he felt the House should deliberate upon independently.

The flashpoint appears to be the government's criticism of the 16th Finance Commission. The skipped portion of the address reportedly contained disparaging remarks reg...