Days after Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal clarified on the floor of the House that the post of “halqa in-charges” were not under SAD’s constitution neither there was any provision, Congress on Tuesday declared that it may move privilege motion against him for misleading the House. Raising the issue during zero hour, Congress MlA Randeep Singh Nabha brought into the House’s notice the cards, issued by Ferozepur Deputy Commissioner, for the Prime Minister’s visit on Sunday on which name of “Vardev Singh Mann halqa in-charge” was mentioned along with the names of SAD MPs, MlAs, and others.
“This amounts to privilege motion against you CM sahab. You said there are no halqa in-charge. Then what is thisIJ” questioned Nabha while showing the card to the Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal. Nabha asked the Chief Minister what action would he take, “otherwise, we will move a privilege motion”. Speaker maintained that taking action depend on the government and as per rules, he cannot compel them to reply.
Amidst pandemonium, Chief Minister reiterated his stand. “I am announcing again, and with the consent of the party president (SAD president Sukhbir Badal) that there is no such post under our party constitution.” Terming the mentioning of halqa in-charge’s name on official cards as “minor mistake”, Badal assured the House that he would question the concerned officer and would seek reply in written.
ROTATIONAl POSTING SYSTEM FOR SHOS, ASIS AND MUNSHIS
Aiming at bringing transparency and efficiency in the functioning of State’s police force, the Punjab Government on Tuesday announced to implement soon the rotational posting system right from the munshis, to the Station House Officers (SHOs) and Assistant Sub-Inspectors in police stations.
Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal, who also holds Home portfolio, announced this when the Congress MlA Balbir Singh Sidhu pointed at the long stay of the local level police officers at one police station, and alleged highhandedness by them.
Also responding to the assertions of another Congress MlA Tripat Rajinder Singh Bajwa on same officer carrying investigation who arrested a person, Sukhbir pointed that the State Government has already separated investigation wing with that of law and order.
The issues come forth during the ongoing debate on the budget proposals presented by the State Finance Minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa. “Punjab government is committed to setting up a separate investigation wing in the State police. Separate SHOs and Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs) would be posted for investigation at the police station and sub-division level and the separate wing would start functioning from this April,” said Sukhbir.
He said that it was also decided that the police officer who would register case would not investigate the same. “This initiative would boost the investigation process and further provide justice to victims and sentence to culprits,” said Sukhbir.
BADAl ACCUSES CONG MlAS of DENYING PUNJAB ITS SHARE
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Tuesday asserted that the Congress MlAs have asked the UPA Government for not accepting the schemes lying pending for approval.
Badal’s assertion came in reaction to Jakhar’s statement of accompanying the SAD-BJP Ministers to raise the State-specific issues with the Centre. “We are ready to accompany you to take up the issue with the (Union Urban Development Minister Venkaiah) Naidu or (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi,” Jakhar told local Bodies Minister Anil Joshi.
He was referring to the NDA led Central Government’s decision to discontinue UPA approved schemes under which Rs12,000 crore were granted to the State for 22 sewerage projects. “Wherever you support is required for welfare of Punjab, we will take you along…I assure that all pending schemes or projects would be completed,” said Badal.
JAKHAR DEMANDS MID-TERM REVIEW SESSION
Congress legislative Party (ClP) leader Sunil Jakhar urged the Speaker to conduct a mid-term review session to have a check on the government promises and announcements during budget.