5-day House session not enough to discuss public issues: Jakhar
Friday, 25/10/2013
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20131025/punjab.htm#5
Chandigarh : Leader of the Opposition in Punjab Assembly and senior Congress leader Sunil Jakhar today urged Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal to extend the forthcoming Assembly session for 10 more days.
Jakhar said he had submitted a written representation to Atwal requesting him to ensure at least 15 full sittings of the assembly session beginning October 28. “We want to raise several issues and require at least two hours for discussion daily,” he said.
As of now, the session is to end on November 1 and it will only have four full sittings. On October 28, the session would be brief and adjourned after obituary references. “In fact, I have urged the Speaker to have a full sitting on October 28 as well,” Jakhar said.
The Congress leader said Punjab should follow the Haryana pattern where after obituary references on the opening day, the session is adjourned for half an hour and then the legislators reassemble for House business.
Jakhar said the Opposition wanted a detailed discussion on alleged loot of sand and gravel, property tax, advance tax, advance payment of power bills, pending VAT refund, industrial policy and regularisation of illegal colonies. “We want a white paper on the state finances and an explanation from the government on the way its officials are arm-twisting traders and businessmen to cough up more taxes,” he said.
