Congress protests in House, walks out thrice

Saturday, 12/03/2016

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Chandigarh : Accusing the Vidhan Sabha Speaker Dr Charantji Singh Atwal of ‘muzzling’ their voice, the opposition Congress MLAs on Friday lodged a series of protests on the floor of the House and also staged walkout thrice. They first walked out during the Question Hour, secondly when the call of attention notice was in progress and finally during the discussion on Governor Prof Kaptan Singh Solanki’s address.

As the Question Hour was in progress, Leader of Opposition Charanjit Singh Channi protested Atwal’s approach towards them by allegedly not providing them with opportunity to express their views on the SYL issue on Thursday. Despite the fact that the Speaker had rejected Congress’ amendment on the SYL issue on Thursday, Channi claimed that the assurance of de-notifying the land for SYL was an amendment to the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s resolution which the Congress had moved. When the Speaker asked Congress MLA Surinder Kumar Dawar to ask his listed question, he stood up and refused to do so saying that “the entire Congress legislators have decided to boycott the Question Hour.”  

During the Zero Hour, the Congress member Ajit Inder Singh Mofar drew the attention of the House towards incidents of sacrilege which rocked the state last year. However, the Speaker intervened and told the House that a commission had already been set up to inquire into the series of incidents of sacrilege. Irked over it, the Congress MLAs reached the Well of the House and started raising slogans and finally walked out.  

Third time, the Congress MLAs staged walkout at about 2:10 pm after lodging strong protest against the Speaker for not allowing them to speak on the Governor’s address, though the Speaker kept on assuring that every party would get its deserved time in proportion of the party’s strength in the House even on Monday. However, the Congress MLAs, specially Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, were insisting to get at least 20 minutes on Friday itself. Once they realised the scope of getting opportunity to speak was minimal, they opted to walkout. During the day, two Akali, one BJP and one Congress MLA could get the chance spoke over the Governor’s address.  

dy cm promises Strict action
Expressing concern over the issue raised by Abohar MLA Sunil Jakhar, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal assured to take strict action against Abohar based owner of Nature Heights Pvt Limited for duping thousands of people by floating fake scheme of real estate. Sukhbir assured Jakhar that he would ask the DGP, Punjab, to probe the matter in a speedy manner so that the guilty is punished without any delay.  

Amphibious bus for Harike
Tourism Minister Sohan Singh Thandal informed the House about the promotion of natural sites in Keshopur, Ropar and Harike wetland in Punjab. In a specific query about the amphibious bus promised by Sukhbir Singh Badal, the minister said the bus was being manufactured by a Sweden-based company and it would start in Harike Lake from June this year.  

260 villages sans of graveyards
In reply to a query of Mohd Sadiq, Panchayat Minister Sikander Singh Maluka informed that House that there were 260 villages in Punjab which have Christian or Muslim population but sans of the graveyards. He, however, mentioned that it has been decided that where the land was not available with the government the villages will be granted funds to purchase the land for this purpose.  

Mahilpur to get international football stadium shortly
Good news for football lovers in Doaba. Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, while responding to the question of Surinder Singh Bhulewal Rathan, informed the House that Mahilpur town in Hoshiapur district would soon get an international football stadium. He said that the funds were allotted for the purpose and the stadium was to get completed in next six to seven months.  

Bikram, Valtoha take potshots
As the Congress replaced its RS candidate Hans Raj Hans with Shamsher Singh Dullo, Bikram and Valtoha on Friday recited the lyrics of two songs of disgruntled Hans: “Dil Tote Tote Ho Gya..., Eh Jo Silli Silli Aundi Hai Hawa..” The two also passed several rhetorics on Sukhjinder Randhawa and Charanjit Singh Channi in the House.