The Punjab Congress on Tuesday took strong exception to the breach of protocol by the Fatehgarh Sahib sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) while dealing with the party MlA Kuljeet Singh Nagra.
The party has urged the Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker to take suo motu cognisance of the incident and summon the concerned SDM for breach of privileges of an elected legislator.
It has also made it clear that such things would not be tolerated, and demanded an independent enquiry into the controversy.
“Do not try to play ultra loyalists to the Akalis but do your job dutifully, lest you have to account for everything in the new regime that is not too far,” said Congress Deputy leader in the lok Sabha Capt Amarinder Singh, warning all such officers who were trying to do bidding of some Akali leaders.
Only a day before, Fatehgarh Sahib MlA Nagra and SDM Pooja Syal Grewal were involved in a verbal spat during a meeting to discuss an anti-encroachment drive at Sirhind municipal council office.
SDM had lodged a complaint against Nagra for using abusive language — allegations categorically denied by Nagra. He, in fact, accused the SDM of not following protocol saying that she had insulted him by urging shopkeepers to directly contact her instead of approaching the elected representative of the area.
The former Chief Minister said that the Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker must take suo motu notice of the incident and summon the concerned SDM for breach of privileges of an elected legislator.
“If this be the behaviour of the officers with the elected representatives, what would be the plight of the common man,” said Capt Amarinder.
He said that the officers must know and understand that while dealing with the elected representatives of people, they must maintain certain protocol as they are accountable to people.
Expressing his serious concern over the “reported attempt by Fatehgarh Sahib SDM to humiliate Congress legislature by leveling false allegations against him”, the leader of Congress legislative Party (ClP) Sunil Jakhar said that such attempts will not be tolerated.
He said that he would request the Vidhan Sabha Speaker to conduct independent inquiry into the controversy.
“Congress workers and legislatures have always tried to keep the government officers, especially women, in high esteem but there can not be any compromise on ensuring their dignity too,” said Jakhar.
Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal had also, in a letter last month, advised the Government officers to ensure constitutionally prescribed respect to legislatures which the latter rightly deserve.