Shimla, Aug. 20 -- The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the main opposition party in the Himachal Pradesh assembly, announced a boycott of Revenue and Horticulture Minister Jagat Singh Negi.

As part of the boycott, the saffron party Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) have decided not to ask any questions or listen to his statements inside the House of Jagat Singh Negi, who holds portfolios of Revenue, Tribal affairs and Horticulture. The ruckus was triggered by remarks made by Negi during the recent disaster in Seraj, which the BJP alleged were "insensitive and derogatory."

The BJP MLA Randhir Sharma raised the matter in the House, saying the minister had made "mocking and inappropriate" comments at a time when people were in distress ...