Himachal CM dances in assembly

Shimla, March 12 (IANS) Amid pandemonium in the assembly created by the main opposition BJP, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on Thursday found a unique way of jeering at the rivals.

He literally swayed his hips in the assembly in a movement of dance to the rhythms of slogans being raised against him over the reported clash between the Bharatiya Janata Party and chief minister's son Vikramaditya Singh-led Youth Congress activists in Shimla on January 29 during a demonstration against the central government's land acquisition ordinance.

In a celebration mode after his daughter's wedding just five days ago, the traditional Himachali dance by the chief minister took everyone by surprise.

During the session, even Leader of Opposition Prem Kumar Dhumal missed no opportunity to talke a jibe at his bete noire for his Punjabi connections.

"I know Punjabi; I am now sure you might be well versed with it now."

The chief minister's youngest daughter, Aprajita Singh, was married to Angad Singh, the grandson of the erstwhile Patiala royalty's Amarinder Singh, former chief minister of Punjab.

Amarinder Singh has a long association with the hill state. He owns two ancestral orchards - one at Kandyali near Narkanda, some 60 km from state capital Shimla, and the other at Dochi near Chail in Solan district.

At both places, he is often seen holidaying along with his friend Aroosa Alam, a Pakistani journalist and socialite.