Cong MLAs ask Governor to call House session
Wednesday, 26/09/2012
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120926/punjab.htm#6
Chandigarh, : Congress legislators led by Congress Legislature Party Leader Sunil Jakhar today urged Governor Shivraj Patil to convene an emergency assembly session to discuss fresh taxes imposed on the people as well as the state's financial crisis.
Submitting a memorandum in this regard, Jakhar told the Governor that the government had imposed fresh taxes to raise Rs 900 crore almost immediately after passing a "tax-free" Budget. By doing so, the government had impeached on the right of the legislature to discuss and debate mobilisation of resources.
The memorandum stated that a minister had to resign after he and his kin were found involved in siphoning welfare funds. It said the state government had for political compulsions opposed FDI in multi-brand retail, which, in fact, could be beneficial to the state's farmer and the industry. It said such policy issues must be discussed on the floor of the House.
The memorandum also said industrialists were shifting to neighbouring states because of the rise in VAT.
Jakhar said the the government had failed to provide assistance to farmers hit by a poor monsoon and had failed to present their case to the Central Government in a proper way.
Jakhar explains
Jakhar was visibly uncomfortable answering queries as to why Pradesh Congress president Capt Amarinder Singh and former CLP leader Rajinder Kaur Bhattal were always missing at meetings called by him. He said Amarinder and a few other senior leaders, including Laal Singh, had been called for meetings by the party high command. He said Bhattal might join the delegation calling on the Governor. She never did.
