Around 50 MlAs from all over Punjab — converged at the Punjab Vidhan Sabha on Friday morning — for nothing.
The ‘emergency’ session, to discuss the wealth tax issue, proved to be fruitless as it lasted for just about 15 minutes. It started at about 10 am and was adjourned till 10.30 am. It continued for seven minutes before being adjourned sine die.
For, the ruling SAD-BJP combine had already made it clear on Thursday itself that the session would mainly be focusing on Sarabjit's issue, and Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal was also to attend his funeral. In any case, after the rollback on the wealth tax issue by the Centre, there was hardly anything left to be discussed in the special session when its imposition was still a possibility.
Many believe that SAD's decision to convene a special Assembly session was a decision in hurry. All that SAD-BJP Government could have done was imposing pressure on the Central Government by just passing a resolution in the State Assembly. Otherwise also, the political analysts were of the view that cutting down the session, especially after the rollback, was a move aimed at shielding the Government from Opposition’s blazing guns.
Soon after the announcement of the special session, the Congress party had made it clear that certain other topics, including property tax, recent power tariff hike, law and order, among others, too hot to be handled by the Government, would also be taken up to make the most out of the session. However, no other discussion or debate took place on any other issue in Assembly on Friday as a mark of respect to the departed soul.
To ensure that no issue be raised, a resolution was passed soon after the House assembled for the proceedings highlighting that the "Special Session" of the Vidhan Sabha was to transact certain urgent and important Government business, and "no other business whatsoever including questions, calling attention notices, and any other business to be initiated by a Private Member be brought before or transacted in the House".
“We want to raise certain significant issues concerning the state. But, considering the mood of the House, and the purpose of the session today, we decided to remain quite,” a Congress MlA said.