Refusing to see eye-to-eye with the SAD-BJP led Punjab Government on drugs, unemployment, poor health services and other issues, Congress on Monday demanded a white paper on the action by the Government on promises made in the Governor’s address during its eight years’ tenure. At the same time, the party made it clear that it is ready to support the ruling alliance and accompany them to rake up the matter of Chandigarh’s transfer to Punjab with the Centre.
Tearing into the SAD-BJP claims of development, Congress MlA Brahm Mohindra take the treasury benches head-on while asking for ‘white paper’ on the status of the issues raised and announcements made in the Governor’s address every year. Asserting that issues has been laying pending since long, including that of transfer of Chandigarh and other Punjabi speaking areas to Punjab, Mohindra asked the Government what efforts have been made in the past to claim Chandigarh.
Another Congress MlA Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa raised the issue of drug menace in the State causing much discomfort to the treasury benches. He minced no words to say that the ‘Badals has taken every business to their family’. Randhawa also pointed at how a Cabinet Minister Anil Joshi’s brother was attacked by the Akalis to show that if a Minister’s family is not safe, think about a common man. “Joshi had said that the rule is ‘worse than the Aurangzeb’s rule’. Either CM should dismiss Joshi for making this statement or give his explanation,” he added.
Soon as Randhawa started talking about alleged involvement of Revenue Minister Bikram Singh Majithia in the multi-crore drug scam, the treasury benches objected to it. Asking the Opposition to not to bring in his family into this, Majithia questioned if the members of the House would decide “who's guilty and who's not…Are you trying to say that I am involvedIJ Why does your memory not work when we talk about Congress leaders' links with drug trade…this selective memory and selective bashing is unacceptable…this is not good politics”.
Just as the MlAs from both sides were having heated exchange of words, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal intervened asking the members to excuse themselves from blaming each other, and "do some constructive work". "I don't want to speak anything on the issue as the matter is subjudice. Two agencies, Punjab police and the ED, are probing the matter. Judge would decide after their reports. Why are we blaming each otherIJ Guilty will surely be punished," said Badal.
Cong stages walkout for non-disbursement of scholarships to SC students
Congress on Monday staged a walkout on the issue of non-disbursement of scholarship money to the Scheduled Caste students across the State. The matter came up during the question hour when the Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal granted extension to the concerned minister to give reply of the question raised by Congress MlA Tripat Rajinder Singh Bajwa.
Protesting the "extension", leader of Opposition Sunil Jakhar pointed that the same question has been raised by the party so many times, and every time the government failed to come up with a concrete reply.
“You and Deputy Chief Minister had promised that we will get answer in two days but it took two years for the government to send me these heavy bundles of papers in response to our query on the issue in December 2012. This is completely misleading,” said Jakhar.
House unanimously thanks Prez for conferring Padma Vibushan on Badal
Punjab Vidhan Sabha on Monday unanimously passed a resolution for expressing gratitude to the President Pranab Mukherjee for conferring the coveted Padma Vibhushan award on "the most senior statesman", Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. The resolution was moved by the state Finance Minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa, and seconded by the Congress MlA Brahm Mohindra.
Dhindsa, in his resolution, stated, "Conferment of prestigious Padma Vibhushan award on the most respected Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, by the President Pranab Mukherjee on the Republic Day January 26, 2015, in recognition with his continued services for the welfare of poor, dalits and farmers since long. This award is a sheer honour for Punjabiyat and all the Punjabis across the globe."
Speaker disallows Congress’ privilege motion against Majithia
Punjab Vidhan Sabha witnessed heated arguments between the members of treasury benches and the opposition after Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal disallowed a privilege motion against Revenue Minister Bikram Singh Majithia. As the Zero Hour started, ClP leader Sunil Jakhar drew the attention of the Speaker towards the privilege motion the party wanted to move.
Agreeing that he had received the notice for the same, Atwal said that the same "is under consideration" and he would take a decision on it in a couple of days. The issue and references made by Jakhar during his arguments regarding the privilege motion given by him were not taken on the record of the proceedings of the House.
Noticing that Jakhar was adamant on his motion, Atwal asked him how he concluded that the motion has been rejected. "It is under consideration. I will give a decision in a couple of days," he clarified. Intervening in the matter, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal said: "No one can dictate terms to the Speaker. You (Jakhar) can't force the Speaker to admit the motion now," he added.