Shimla, Feb. 19 -- Amid uproar and repeated disruptions by the Opposition, the Himachal Pradesh assembly on Wednesday passed the resolution seeking restoration of the revenue deficit grant (RDG). Parliamentary affairs minister Harshwardan Chauhan had proposed a resolution for discussion in the House on February 16, saying, "The state was receiving the amount of RDG under Articles 275 and 280 of the Constitution from the 5th to the 15th Finance Commission, which has been discontinued by the central government from the next financial year as per the recommendations of the 16th Finance Commission, due to which a situation of economic crisis has arisen in the state. In view of this, this House strongly recommends to the central government that the RDG amount being given earlier should be provided as per the revenue deficit in view of the economic condition of the state." Amid repeated disruptions, chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu replied to a discussion on a government resolution moved under Rule 102, regarding the situation arising due to RDG discontinuation. Sukhu said the RDG was stopped on February 1 and that his immediateeffort thereafter was to gather feedback from all stakeholders. He asserted that RDG is notthe right of any government but the right of the people of the state. He also questioned the Opposition's stand, stating that they were unable to clarify whether they supported or opposed the discontinuation, adding that stoppage of RDG would require a 15% cut in the state budget. Referring to submissions made before the finance commission during the previous BJP government, Sukhu asked whether the demands placed before the 15th Finance Commission had now been fulfilled. He said that when Jai Ram Thakur was CM, he had described RDG as a constitutional right before the 15th Finance Commission along with highlighting Himachal as a revenue deficitstate with higher operational costs due to its geographical conditions. "What has changed now? Why not say the same before the Prime Minister?" Sukhu asked. While presenting financial comparisons, as Sukhu placed the figures before the House, the BJP members rose from their seats and protested, alleging that incorrect data was being presented, also objecting that the leader of Opposition was not being allowed to talk. To which the Speaker assured that time would be given to the LoP. Amid continued sloganeering, from both the Opposition and treasury benches, Sukhu remarked that the Opposition lacked the courage to listen. The uproar escalated, with Opposition members trooping into the Well of the House and raising slogans, followed by counter-slogans from the ruling side. Ruling Congress, under the leadership of CM Sukhu, also raised slogans against the BJP for opposing RDG. Assembly proceedings were first adjourned for ten minutes. The assembly's budget session was deferred till March 18. After the conclusion of the Assembly session, BJP MLAs, under the leadership of the LoP, raised slogans against the government. Former CM Jai Ram Thakur, speaking to media after the assembly session, said that lies are being continuously told in the House. "The CM was repeatedly reading out incorrect figures while answering. We requested time to respond but were denied. The BJP legislative party was forced to come to the well and raise slogans, but our side was not heard," said Thakur. "We did everything we could for the benefit of Himachal while in power," he said. "We worked, presented our arguments logically, highlighted Himachal's problems, and raised state's voice on every platform and we received support from the central government led by PM Narendra Modi."...