Coming out in full support of its legislator facing inquiry into allegations of misbehaving with a civil servant, the leader of the Congress legislative Party (ClP) Sunil Kumar Jakhar has convened a meeting of all MlAs on September 23 — Tuesday.
Jakhar, also the leader of Opposition in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, maintained that the meeting would largely focus on the issue of pressurising the people’s representatives against raising issues concerning them.
The Congress party has all along been defending its Fatehgarh Sahib MlA Kuljit Singh Nagra, maintaining that Fatehgarh Sahib Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Pooja Syal Grewal violated the protocol, who, on the other hand, is accusing Nagra of using abusive language with her.
To look into the matter, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had ordered an inquiry by the Patiala Divisional Commissioner, while the Congress MlAs have already brought the issue into the notice of the Vidhan Sabha Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal, demanding probe.
“We will discuss this issue of disrespect shown towards Congress MlA from Fatehgarh Sahib Kuljit Singh Nagra by an officer of the Punjab Government and thereafter the delegation of MlAs will meet the Speaker on this issue urging him to act in the matter,” said Jakhar.
“Most of the MlAs are of the view that the Fatehgarh Sahib SDM has overstepped limits of protocol and has insulted the institution of MlA and has shown utter disrespect to elected representative. Instead of accepting the wrong committed, the officer is twisting the facts to escape reprimand,” said Jakhar.
He added that the issue will be discussed in the light of Punjab Civil Service Conduct Rules and the Speaker will be apprised of all facets of the officer-MlA issue. Besides Nagra’s issue, the issues of State’s poor fiscal condition, diversion of central funds, along with forthcoming civic body polls would also be discussed.
“We will also discuss other issues like diversion of central funds for day-to-day operations of the State, non-payment of salaries to employees, non-fulfillment of election promises related to employment including unemployment allowance, Shagun schemes, old age pension schemes. Besides, we will also seek white paper on State’s economy,” said ClP leader. He added that the meeting would also discuss regarding upcoming municipal polls “and devise strategy for the same”.