Punjab Vidhan Sabha on Friday virtually turned into a battlefield with the Congress legislators engaging in a frenzied verbal dual with their SAD counterparts, with one of the Congress MlAs allegedly “punching” an Akali member.
Defeated in the elections, a handful of Akali members tried to hit back at the Congress on the third day of the ongoing Budget Session by indulging in unprovoked instigation — an action which virtually backfired.
A provoked Cabinet Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu let loose verbal barrage at the Akalis targeting the Badals in particular over their interest in transport sector.
Complete rumpus prevailed in the House when Akali MlAs, protesting inside the well of the House, passed “personal” comments against Sidhu, who lost his cool.
The situation took an ugly turn when Congress MlAs, including Raja Amarinder Singh Warring, Kuljit Singh Nagra, Parminder Singh Pinky, Rana Gurmeet Sodhi and others, came in Sidhu’s support coming face-to-face with the Akali MlAs.
Things went worse as SAD MlA Rozy Barkandi was “attacked” by Congress MlA from Ghanaur Thekedar Madan lal Jalalpura.
Seeing thing going completely out of control, Speaker Rana Kanwar Pal Singh adjourned the House for 30 minutes — which was not enough to settle down the things.
The face-off continued even during the adjournment with the leader of Opposition and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MlA from Dakha HS Phoolka reaching out to Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, and even making attempts to pacify the two sides.
It all started with the Akalis’ protest in the well of the House soon as the Speaker announced the name of Ajaib Singh Bhatti as the Deputy Speaker of Vidhan Sabha.
Amidst sloganeering by the Akali MlAs demanding discussion of farm debt waiver, while their ally BJP continued to sit, the Speaker continued with the day’s proceedings and conducting the Question Hour. Akalis’ slogans take a high pitch ever time Sidhu got up to reply to the queries.
Replying to the question related to Harike Wetland, furious Sidhu launched a scathing attack on the Akalis, especially the Badals, for owning private transport business, resulting in loses to the State owned PRTC, and wasting money on SAD chief Sukhbir Badal’s “dream project” of amphibious bus.
Taking pot-shots at the Badal father-son duo, Sidhu said Sukhbir was adamant to buy the amphibious bus and his “papa ji” (former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal) agreed without any thinking.
As Akalis continued to raise slogans in high-decibel, excited Sidhu pointed that the Harike project was doomed as the bus was operated for just 10 days generating Rs 64,000 revenue for the Government.
Notably, Rs 8.62 crore has been incurred on the purchase of bus, construction of ramp, insurance and other charges.
“Badals have gifted the PRTC a loss of Rs 350 crore just to profit their own transport venture...If they wanted to run buses, they should have run those of PRTC...they have looted the State,” shouted Sidhu, adding that just to fulfil what he said, Sukhbir released water hat flooded the nearby fields and they are here talking about farmers’ interest.
Intervening Parliamentary Affairs Minister Brahm Mohindra, sitting along Sidhu, pointed that the attack is getting personal which cannot be tolerated.
Seeing the SAD MlAs started coming towards Sidhu, the marshals form a wall between them, which was pushed by the Cabinet Minister Charanjit Singh Channi and Raja Amarinder Singh Warring.
During the adjournment, Sidhu was seen moving hither and yon on the floor of the House completely agitated by the objectionable remark passed against him by the Akalis. Even as the Congress MlAs tried to pacify him, Sidhu declared that he would hit them back with the truth. “Main sach naal maaranga,” he said.