For the second consecutive day, the principal opposition, Congress, targeted the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for initiating no action against its Minister Fauja Singh Sarari over an audio clip in which he was purportedly discussing ways to “trap” some contractors to “extort” money from them.
Complete pandemonium prevailed as the Congress legislators staged a massive protest inside the House seeking Sarari’s dismissal and arrest, while also seeking a reply from the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. Even as the Congress MLAs, led by the Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa, insisted on Chief Minister’s response on the issue, the Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan refused saying that he cannot be forced to reply.
The Speaker Sandhwan in fact, came down heavily on the Congress MLAs when they trooped inside the Well of the House and started raising slogans against the AAP Government. Congress’ protest continued, even as the House passed three important Bills without any discussion amidst the uproar. The commotion ensued when, on the Chief Minister’s arrival in the House, Bajwa demanded a statement from Bhagwant Mann on Sarari’s alleged extortion audio clip.
A day before also, the Congress MLAs disrupted the House proceedings and forced an adjournment over the same issue. Even as the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was absent from the House on Thursday, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema assailed the Congress MLAs.
Earlier this month, an audio clip of a purported conversation between Sarari and his former close aide allegedly discussing ways to “trap” some food grain transport contractors through officials “to extort money” from them surfaced.
Situation turned ugly when the Chief Minister was tabling the Punjab State Vigilance Commission (Repeal) Bill, 2022 amidst the Congress MLAs’ protest. Despite repeated pleas by the Speaker Sandhwan urging the protesting legislators to back to their seats and discuss the Bill, Congress leaders continued to raise slogans against the Government in the Well of the House.
Soon, several AAP MLAs started demanding action against the Congress MLAs for “wasting” House’s time. Cabinet Ministers Aman Arora and Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal also strongly condemned the Congress leaders for stalling the House proceedings.
DHALIWAL ASSURES COMPENSATION TO FARMERS FOR DAMAGED CROPS
Punjab Agriculture Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal on Friday assured the House that the state’s farmers, whose crops were damaged due to a virus or rains, will soon get the compensation for the same. “As of now, the government is carrying out the girdawari which would continue till October 31,” said the Minister while responding to the calling attention motion moved by the Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa on the third day of the ongoing session. Dhaliwal said that the farmers would soon get compensation for their crops of paddy, potato, or vegetables that has been damaged by the Chinese virus and rains. “After the girdawari process is complete, the government would give the compensation as per the crops damaged,” he added.
BAJWA ACCUSES AAP OF KEEPING OPP “OUT OF FOCUS”
Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa also lashed out at the ruling party for deliberately keeping the opposition legislators “out of focus” during the telecast of House proceedings on various channels through social media. Bajwa raised objections on the manner in which House’s “live” proceedings are being broadcasted saying that the “close-ups” of the ruling party members were shown while the opposition members were shown from a distance.
WAR OF WORDS BETWEEN SPEAKER AND KHAIRA
A war of words ensued between the Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan and Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira when the latter was not given time to speak. Khaira wanted to raise an issue during the Zero Hour, but the Speaker did not allot him any time. Things turned ugly when visibly irate Khaira trooped inside the well of the House to lodge a protest against the Speaker for not allowing him to raise his issue all alone.