The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Government in Punjab on Monday scored full marks in the ‘vote of confidence’, amidst a walkout by the main opposition — the Congress while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) boycotted the session. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, after the Vidhan Sabha passed the motion “unanimously”, claimed that “Operation Lotus is defeated in Punjab”, even as the AAP MLAs attacked the BJP from left, right, and center during debate on the last day of the session.
Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan, after the voice vote, declared that all 93 MLAs present in the House — including 91 AAP MLAs, one SAD and one BSP MLA — have supported the motion, while declaring it to be “unanimously passed”. However, the Akali Dal later claimed that its MLA Manpreet Ayali and its coalition partner BSP’s MLA Nachattar Singh have opposed the same, while urging the Speaker to make corrections in the records accordingly.
Notably, AAP has 92 legislators in the 117-member House, including the Speaker — leaving only 91 of them eligible to vote. Besides, Congress has 18 members, with three MLAs from SAD, two from BJP, one from BSP, and the remaining one is an Independent.
BJP MLAs had earlier announced to boycott the session accusing the AAP Government of violating the Constitution by bringing the confidence motion in the Assembly.
Congress MLAs, who were present in the House, staged a walk out as soon as the discussion on the motion began. Out of three SAD MLAs, only one — SAD legislature wing president Manpreet Singh Ayali — was present along with BSP’s lone MLA Nachattar Singh did not oppose the motion when the Speaker put it to vote.
The Speaker asked the MLAs to raise hands who were in support, and then asked those who were against the motion of confidence. He noted that 91 AAP MLAs have supported the motion, with one of the three SAD MLAs, who was present in the House, and a lone BSP MLA did not oppose the motion.
“So, 93 MLAs have supported the motion and none is against it. Thus, the motion is unanimously passed,” announced the Speaker. At the time of voting, no Congress, BJP or lone Independent MLA was present in the House.
Before the motion was put to vote and passed, AAP MLAs hit out at the BJP over its “Operation Lotus” alleging a bid to topple the party’s six-month-old government in Punjab during a high-voltage discussion on the motion.
AAP had claimed that at least 10 of its MLAs were approached by the BJP with an offer of Rs 25 crore to each of them besides threat to face probe by central agencies in a bid to topple the Mann government under its “Operation Lotus”.
Leading the charge, AAP MLA from Jalandhar West Sheetal Angural minced no word to claim that he was offered Rs 25 crore to shift his loyalties towards the BJP under its ‘Operation Lotus’, and the offer was made on behalf of Cabinet Minister Anurag Thakur.
“Those who tried to buy AAP MLAs, their names have been given to the Vigilance today…I received the first call on September 7, and the caller identified himself as a lawyer of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The person mentioned the name of Amit Bhai Shah to break the Punjab Government. The sting that I have clearly talks about a meeting with the Union Cabinet Minister Anurag Thakur a day before meeting Amit Shah,” said Angural, raising slogans against BJP.
Declaring that no team member of Bhagwant Mann will leave, Angural said that AAP’s honest team stands resolute and firm behind Bhagwant Mann.
“Let the BJP book us or send us to jail but we are not scared. They are using all possible power of money and ED to scare us…I have recorded my statement against two people who claim to be senior advocates and that they will arrange for my meeting with Anurag Thakur,” he said.
AAP’s another MLA Dinesh Chadha said that in the past few days, Congress was staging the biggest drama on behalf of BJP in the State saying that the confidence motion cannot be tabled. “Now, the Congress is just making MLAs and selling them to BJP and others like they are doing all over the nation,” he said.
Taking on Congress, Chadha said that Congress is quoting the Constitution to claim that vote of confidence cannot be tabled, while reminding it of supporting the ruling party in Jharkhand to move the same motion.
“Biggest Congress leaders including former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh and top leaders including Balbir Singh Sidhu, Rana Gurmeet Singh Sodhi, and many others have joined the BJP. And many are going to join the BJP soon,” he said, adding that evidence of horse-trading of AAP MLAs was there and have been given to the investigating agency.
SAD MLA Manpreet Singh Ayali, participating in the debate, said that there was no need to bring this confidence motion in the House. “You have 92 MLAs and no one challenged you,” he said.
Ayali maintained that when BJP brought three anti-farmer bills, he was the first one to oppose it; and he also differed with his own party, SAD, on the issue of supporting the presidential candidate.
“More than 20 days after the allegations were made by the Finance Minister, no names have been given. All this appears to be an exercise to highlight the party’s presence before Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh elections….The state has its own issues…all these needs to be settled…the problem of law and order…condition of roads are very bad and people are suffering…AAP government should fulfill the promises made to the people of Punjab and give Rs 1000 to the people,” said Ayali while opposing the motion and saying that “there is no need for the same”.
Cabinet Minister and AAP’s Kharar MLA Anmol Gagan Mann, took on BJP by reciting a Punjabi couplet. “Operation Lotus utte bawaal ho gaya, Loktantra te khada sawaal ho gaya,” she said while accusing the BJP of running the operations like “Lotus” when it fails to form Government with the people’s mandate. “The opposition is worried that wherever the AAP government will come, there will be a change,” she said.
AAP’s two-time MLA Prof Baljinder Kaur said that the ‘Operation Lotus’ has become a drama. “We should have talked about Operation Lotus 10 days back when it was at its peak,” she said.
AAP MLA Amritpal Singh said that the reason for bringing the trust vote is to expose the opposition. “It is surprising to see the Congressmen, because if the maximum number of MLAs are sold, they belong to the Congress. But Congress MLAs are standing with BJP instead of AAP,” he said.
Faith of people won in Punjab, anti-democratic forces defeated: CM
As the Punjab Vidhan Sabha “unanimously” passed a confidence motion in the favor of the AAP-led State Government on the last day of the session, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday said: “Faith of people has won in Punjab and the forces who had tried to purchase the verdict of masses have got a major blow.”
Mann, winding up debate on the floor of the House, said that the motion was brought in Vidhan Sabha to show that the State Government enjoys the people’s confidence. “The passing of this motion has proved that the country’s democracy cannot be purchased by money or muscle power. With this historic mandate, the State Government will make further strenuous efforts for restoring the pristine glory of the state,” he added.
Expressing deep concern over the efforts being made to murder democracy in the country, the Chief Minister said that this is a major threat for the country. “People have always upheld the democratic values but now, the Congress and BJP are trying to derail democracy by grabbing power through the back door,” said Mann, adding that these leaders have turned democracy into a game of those having money and muscle power.
The Chief Minister said that the confidence motion in the state assembly has been necessitated as both the parties have joined hands to topple the democratically elected government in the state. “BJP is mastering art to form governments in the State through back doors in the country and unfortunately despite being its worst victim the Congress is supporting it.,” said Mann daring the Congress leaders to explain why they have been mum on this anti-democratic move of the saffron party despite the fact their MLAs have been purchased by BJP in many states.
Mann said that the day is not far when Congress will open offices in the country with the tag ‘MLAs on sale’.
Coming down heavily on the Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa, the Chief Minister said that it is unfortunate he had become a puppet in the hands of the saffron party. “Senior Congress leader will now be known as Partap Singh ‘Bhajpa’ after his dubious role to scuttle democracy in the State has been exposed. It is shameful on the part of the senior Congress leader that he is supporting the sinister move of the saffron party,” he said.
Will ensure punishment in Bargari incident
Mann said that the Punjab Government is committed to ensuring severest of severe punishment to perpetrators of the Bargari incident. “I have asked the officers to complete the enquiry into matter at the earliest for nailing the guilty, however affluent he may be. The State Government is also making all out efforts on the legal front to ensure that no guilty is spared,” he added.
Will make efforts to get Balwara airport named after Sarabha
Mann further said that the State Government will make all out efforts to get the Halwara Airport named after legendary martyr Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha. “No stone will be left unturned for this noble cause as a tribute to the iconic martyr,” said Mann, adding that the State Government is committed to perpetuating the legacy of these great national leaders.