Speaker’s order irrelevant, issue in public domain: Amarinder
Tuesday, 15/01/2013
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20130115/punjab.htm#5
Chandigarh : Taking responsibility for screening a video clip of Revenue Minister and Youth Akali Dal president Bikram Singh Majithia, hurling abuses at Congress MLA Rana Gurjit Singh on the floor of the Vidhan Sabha, at the party's Maghi Mela rally in Muktsar yesterday, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Capt Amarinder Singh today said that the Speaker's order to expunge the utterances from the assembly record and ban the CD from being played was irrelevant.
This was so as the matter was already in the public domain. “Since the proceedings were broadcast live on PTC with the Speaker's permission, how can it be expunged now?" he asked.
Questioning the impartiality of Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal, he said what Majithia had uttered was clearly audible. “All the members present in the House, those in the media gallery and others heard what Majithia said and yet he (Speaker) claims that he did not hear anything,” he observed.
On the Speaker exploring legal options against Congress MLAs for screening the video, the PCC chief said that the Speaker “should examine his own role and constitutional duty first.” He said it was he who had ordered the screening of the video and none of the Congress MLAs should be held responsible for the same. “If you have a problem, deal with me and do not harass my legislators,” he told the Speaker. “If the Speaker did not hear anything objectionable, what then made him expunge the remarks from the House record and suspend Congress MLA Rana Gurjit,” Amarinder asked.
Moreover, Majithia in interviews to newspapers had admitted to having abused Rana Gurjit in the House. “How come the Speaker did not read any of these newspapers,” the PCC chief asked.
Muktsar police stand
Muktsar: Neither the police nor the district administration has taken action against any Congress leader for playing the CD on Majithia at the Maghi Mela here. NS Bath, Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) said the Deputy Commissioner's word was final. Senior Superintendent of Police Surjeet Singh said they had informed the higher-ups. “We can’t take action against any sitting MLA at our own level,” he added.
