As the nationwide protests are being held across the country against the Centre’s defence recruitment scheme ‘Agnipath’, Punjab Vidhan Sabha will bring a resolution against the same on the last day of the ongoing budget session, June 30.
Other than a resolution in Agnipath, two more resolutions — condemning the ban on Sidhu Moosewala’s controversial new song, SYL, on YouTube; and condemning the Centre’s proposed move regarding the centralisation of Panjab University.
Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan said that all the three resolutions would be tabled in the House on the last day of the session, along with other non-official resolutions.
The issue of Agnipath scheme was raised by the senior Congress MLA and the Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa, demanding a resolution on the same. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann seconded Bajwa’s demand, while BJP member and Punjab unit president Ashwani Sharma opposed it while claiming that the House is being misled.
Speaking during the zero hour, Bajwa said that 20 percent of Punjab’s youths were recruited by the defence forces in the past, then it was made population-based and 7.8 percent of recruitment was being done from the State. With the Agnipath scheme, it would come down to 2.3 per cent, he pointed out, while adding, “We should bring a joint resolution to oppose it.”
Supporting the demand for bringing a resolution, Mann said that it was an emotional issue. “When I think that a 17-year-old would get recruited and come back at 21, he would not even be married, he would not be able to write an ex-soldier against his name, and would not get CSD benefits...I am against this law.” He said that not only should the Punjab Vidhan Sabha bring this resolution but also all state assemblies across the country should follow suit, he said. “This is not only about Agnipath. Whenever in other countries, a law is formed, sweets are distributed. But here fires are shot, riots break out, and protests take place,” he added.
“Agnipath is a whimsical and irrational move of the NDA government which will destroy the basic fabric of the Indian Army,” he said adding that this is another illogical move by the NDA Government to ruin the future of the country’s youth.
He said that no one, except BJP leaders, has ever understood the merits of schemes like demonetisation, GST, draconian farm laws and others; and “Agnipath is an addition to such baseless moves, which no one is able to understand. It is unfortunate and unbelievable that youth will join the Army after attaining the age of 17 years and superannuate merely after four years at age of 21”.
He said that ‘Agnipath’ reflects the sorry state of affairs in the country as the party in power at the Centre is recklessly running its affairs without applying mind.
BJP MLA Ashwani Sharma opposed the demand. “When a 17-year-old will be recruited, he will get an educational qualification and skill development training," he said.
Meanwhile, Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira raised the issue of a ban against Sidhu Moosewala’s latest song, SYL, from YouTube after the BJP-led Centre’s complaint; along with banning several Twitter handles including that of Kisan Ekta Morcha and Tractor to Twitter. “This must also be condemned and made a part of the resolution against the Agnipath scheme,” he added.
Agreeing to the same, Mann said: “Whenever a voice is suppressed, we will oppose it. We will bring a resolution...Freedom of speech is a fundamental right in the country.”
AAP MLA and Education Minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer also suggested that the House should also bring a resolution condemning the centralisation of Panjab University.
UPROAR IN VIDHAN SABHA OVER VVIP TREATMENT TO MUKHTAR ANSARI IN ROPAR JAIL
Heated exchange of words was witnessed on the fourth day of Punjab Vidhan Sabha’s budget session on Tuesday with the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the main opposition Congress party sparring over spending lakhs to give VVIP treatment to a gangster-turned-politician in Punjab’s jail. Maintaining that he has ordered an inquiry into Mukhtar Ansari’s stay in Punjab’s jail, AAP MLA and Punjab Jails Minister Harjot Singh Bains alleged that the erstwhile Congress government had given “five-star” facilities to the Uttar Pradesh-based gangster-politician during his stay in Ropar jail after a fake FIR was registered against him.
Bains, speaking during the discussion on the budget proposals, claimed that Ansari was locked in the Ropar jail under a fake FIR for two years and three months, pointing out that a challan was also not presented in Ansari's case. It is important to mention here that, after Ropar jail, Mukhtar Ansari was shifted to Uttar Pradesh's Bandha jail in 2021. Refuting the claims, the Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa asked Bains to substantiate his claims with “proof”.