Punjab Vidhan Sabha proceedings were hindered on the second day of the Budget session with the opposition parties — Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) – Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) — uniting against the Congress on Monday over the state DGP Dinkar Gupta’s remarks on Kartarpur Sahib corridor and allegations against the Cabinet Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu forcing three adjournments.
The pandemonium that ensued saw 24 MLAs — 12 each of Akali Dal and AAP — being “named” by the Speaker Rana KP Singh on the grounds of “disrupting the House proceedings”. The Speaker ordered the marshals to march all the “named” MLAs out of the House after they allegedly switched off the speakers from which the Vidhan Sabha’s reporters listen to record the House proceedings.
Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, who was not in attendance and heads the Home Department, is expected to make a statement over the two two issues.
Right from the beginning of the House proceedings for the day, the opposition legislators raised the two issues demanding dismissal of the state police chief for his “condemnable” remarks on the Kartarpur Sahib corridor, and also expulsion of the state Food and Civil Supplies Minister Ashu after the suspended DSP Balwinder Singh Sekhon made accusations against him.
During their protest, the Speaker could not run the House smoothly, as a result of which the question hour, as well as zero hour were affected while no discussion was held on the calling attention notices moved by three AAP MLAs — Saravjit Kaur Manuke on non-issuance of cards under Bhai Kanahiya Health Scheme and improper implementation of CM Cancer Relief Fund Scheme; Rupinder Kaur Rubi on plying of unfit and unauthorized school vans and buses; and Aman Arora on noise pollution due to loud speakers. However, the Speaker initiated the discussion on the Governor’s address in which the Congress MLAs and AAP’s “under suspension” MLA Kanwar Sandhu participated.
While uniting against the State Government, both the SAD-BJP MLAs and the AAP legislators were seen competing among themselves to be the first one to raise and protest against the issue.
As the question hour began, SAD MLA Bikram Majithia stood up to raise the issue holding placards, along with other SAD and BJP MLAs. With him, AAP MLA and the Leader of Opposition Harpal Singh Cheema too sought to raise the same issues.
When the Speaker asked them to speak after the question hour, AAP and SAD-BJP MLAs storm the well of the House, shouting slogans, holding placards and posters while standing at a distance from one another. In an apparent attempt to outsmart each other, both sides were raising louder slogans.
Despite the Speaker’s repeated requests to take their seats and assurance that the Chief Minister would make the statement on Tuesday, the opposition leaders continue with their protest.
After the Congress MLAs huddled together and planned their next move, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Brahm Mohindra proposed to hold a debate on the issue by fixing appropriate time.
Bedlam prevailed as soon the Congress MLAs too started raising slogans against the Akalis, leading to adjournment.
As the House resumed, Cheema stressed that the two issues are very sensitive and matter of concern. The Speaker pointed that as the Leader of the House was not present, he would make the statement the next day. Not satisfied, the AAP MLAs entered the well of the House sloganeering.
SAD legislative wing leader Sharanjit Singh Dhillon alleged the government of closing down the much awaited Kartapur corridor by making such statements on the behest of the Gandhi family. Tempers run high as the Congress MLAs opposed the allegations against the Gandhis.
Holding Majithia’s picture with Anwar Masih, former SSB member arrested in Rs 1000 ceore drug haul case. Congress MLAs come face to face with the Akalis MLAs, forcing another adjournment.
As House proceedings resumed again, Cheema dubbed DGP’s statement as condemnable and demanded his dismissal. AAP MLAs against entered the well of the House with the Speaker clarifying that he cannot act against the DGP in the matter. Dhillon too raised the same issue asking on whose directions the DGP made such statement.
AAP MLA Kanwar Sandhu insisted on a statement on the DGP issue by a senior minister pointing that it has resulted in lot of resentment.
Opposition MLAs again started their separate protests and sloganeering in the well of the House, even as the Speaker initiated the debate on the Governor’s address amidst a complete mayhem.
Bholath MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira, who made his appearance in the House after a long hiatus, too demanded that someone in the government, like Parliamentary Affairs Minister, should make a statement and “DGP must be removed without further delay”.
As the House proceedings continue, SAD MLA Harinder Pal Chandumajra and AAP’s Rupinder Kaur Rubi pushed the watch and ward staff standing in front of the Speaker’s chair trying to break the defence line.
AAP’s all women MLAs — Rubi, Saravjit Kaur Manuke, and Baljinder Kaur, push the women guards with fellow legislators pushing them from behind to break the human security wall.
Irate, the Speaker ordered the marshals to march all SAD and AAP MLAs out of the assembly after naming them, which means suspending them for the day, and adjourned the House. Speaker’s orders came after the Vidhan Sabha staff reports to the Speaker that the opposition party MLAs had turned off the speakers on their table.
All opposition MLAs take their seats, to avoid eviction from the House. All AAP, SAD-BJP MLAs group together as the Punjab Police officers forcibly try to lift them, raising slogans against the Punjab Police and the Speaker. It was complete chaos in the House as treasury benches too raised slogans against the Akali-BJP MLAs.
As the house resumed, the state Technical Education Minister Charanjit Singh Channi requested the Speaker to forgive the MLAs. Seconding him, the Parliamentary Affairs Minister Brahm Mohindra too urged Speaker to take back his decision and let off the MLAs after a warning. Without giving any assurance, the Speaker adjourned the house till Tuesday.