The Congress party has decided to take the Shiromani Akali Dal-led Punjab Government head on during the Budget Session of the Vidhan Sabha, starting from Thursday, on the issue of drug menace in the State.
On the eve of Budget Session, the party on Wednesday injected a fresh dosage of vigour to its anti-drugs movement by declaring its decision to bring a “privilege motion” against the State Revenue Minister Bikram Singh Majithia in the wake of “fresh allegations” against him in the multi-crore drug racket.
The party is also looking into the technicalities of moving the Censure Motion against the Government on the issue. At the same time, reiterating its demand of Majithia’s resignation, the party has also dared SAD’s ally, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), to “come clean” on the issue.
“BJP, including its State president Kamal Sharma, was demanding Majithia’s resignation when the Enforcement Directorate had issued summons in his name. Now, when the main accused in the case are saying that Rs35 lakh was given to Majithia at his residence, BJP has to come clean…where do they stand today on this issue,” said the Congress legislative Party (ClP) leader Sunil Jakhar.
Jakhar, also the leader of Opposition in the Vidhan Sabha, announced that the party would bring a privilege motion against Majithia. “Majithia had during the previous session claimed that he was summoned by the ED not as an accused but as a witness. But now, the cloud is clear,” he said.
Seeking his resignation, Jakhar said that it was more of a test for the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal than Majithia. “Chief Minister has to decided whether he wants to put his family relations at stake or his party or the government,” he said while submitting that Majithia should himself step own and in case, he deny to do so, he should be dismissed.
The party once again raised its demand to hand over the probe into the multi-crore drug case to an independent agency to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), to be “monitored by the sitting High Court or preferably Supreme Court judge”.
Jakhar, accompanied by senior party MlAs including Balbir Singh Sidhu and Tarlochan Singh Soondh, said that Majithia and drug issue would be the focus of party’s attack on the ruling combine, besides many other “State-specific and people’s issue” including law and order, centre’s land bill, farmers’ issue, scholarship to SC students among others.
“This Session is being started from where the previous was ended. It is back to square one with the drug issue and Majithia’s involvement once again coming into light with fresh allegations and revelations,” said Jakhar.
Punjab Assembly’s Budget Session will start on Thursday with the Governor’s address to be delivered by Kaptan Singh Solanki and conclude on March 25 after holding nine sittings during the intervening period.
The Budget for 2015-16 will be presented on March 18 which will be discussed for two days on March 20 and 24. Two days — March 16 and 17 — have been allocated for discussion on the Governor’s address.
RElAY HOUSE PROCEEDINGS ON DD, DEMANDS CONGRESS
ClP leader Jakhar demanded that the House proceedings should be telecasted on Doordarshan instead of allowing Badals-owned regional news channel. “People have right to know what is happening in Assembly. Badals’ channel is showing what’s good for them while ignoring the Opposition’s viewpoint.
We would request the Speaker to raise the issue DD to devote some fixed time to telecast house proceedings as DD is available in every nook and corner of the State and no cable channel can ban it as is the case with other channels,” said Jakhar.