Punjab Cabinet Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu has, apparently, hit his own wickets. The batsman-turned-politician on Wednesday found himself on slippery wicket after SAD MlA Pawan Kumar Tinu accused him of hurling castiest remark. Sidhu, on the other hand, categorically refuted the allegations.
The entire opposition, including the SAD-BJP combine and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), lashed out at Sidhu for violating House’s decorum by using “unparliamentarily” words and “disrespecting” the opposition members.
Seeking apology from the local Government Minister, the SAD-BJP has submitted a written complaint with the Speaker, Rana Kanwar Pal Singh, to act against Sidhu.
Sidhu may find himself facing a volley of bouncers over the issue with the SAD planning to move a privilege motion against him or approach the National Commission for the Scheduled Caste, “if Sidhu doesn’t apologise”.
The showdown between Sidhu and Tinu ensued during the Question Hour which disrupted the continued for almost two hours, forcing three adjournments, and resumption of House proceedings.
Responding to Adampur MlA Tinu’s question on present status of sewerage project’s work, Sidhu accused the previous Government of spending Rs 1300 crore to set up no less than 64 sewerage treatment plants, out of which “not even one is functional”.
Tinu, intervening, urged the Speaker to ask Sidhu to answer his query instead of making political statements in the House. As other SAD-BJP MlAs too started raising objections, Sidhu said: “They can’t listen”.
Speaker asked Sidhu to be brief. Sidhu added, “The Government is bringing a policy for the Sewerage Treatment this year and we will make all of the STPs operational.”
When Tinu asked the Speaker to ask Sidhu to sit and listen to the opposition also, Rana KP asked the Akali MlA to not to guide him. “I am well aware of everything you have been doing earlier,” he added.
Tinu alleged that Sidhu was misleading the House by saying that no STP is working as the ones at Jalandhar, Nakodar, among others are working.
He then asked whether the Minister fix the responsibility of officers responsible for non-operational STPs, and in how many months the remaining work be completed.
Sidhu informed that he had already suspended SDO in Dera Baba Nanak for lapses. “I assure you that in one or one-and-a-half-year, not only old STPs be made functional, but eho je members da vi kaam kra dunga (work of such members will also be done),” he said — that enraged Tinu who accused the Minister of passing a castiest slur.
Demanding action against Sidhu, Tinu trooped into the well of the House, with other SAD-BJP MlAs following him shouting slogans.
On back-foot, Sidhu and other Congress legislators were hardly seen defending.
“You should not allow such a Minister to speak,” said Tinu.
Despite the Speaker’s repeated pleas to SAD-BJP MlAs to go back on their seats, they continued their protest, with Tinu sitting on dharna in the well. “let me verify it...I will not go as per your directions...I assure you that if he was found wrong, action will be taken,” he said while continuing taking questions in the question hour.
Shouting slogans, the SAD-BJP MlAs walked out of the House to return back a minute before the Zero Hour. SAD president Sukhbir Badal maintained he had been in the Gouse for seven years and the House has some decorum. “It is you duty to ensure that the opposition be given some respect...we are here as this is also part of democracy...We can also fight from amongst the people...but we come here to question the Government,” he said. “It is not the way a Minister behaves in the House,” he added.
leader of Opposition and AAP MlA HS Phoolka too lashed out at the treasury benches saying that such words should not be used. He added Sidhu even used such words when AAP MlAs were staging a walkout earlier which should have used. “It is your duty to maintain the decorum,” he added.
Agreeing, Speaker said he would talk to him. SAD-BJP MlAs against started sloganeering demanding an apology from Sidhu.
Finance Minister Manpreet Badal asserted that opposition was equally important as the Government and they welcome the criticism. “Sometime, the choice of words can go wrong...They should also say that they will not disrespect the Chair,” he added.
Sukhbir retorted that the Congress MlAs in past five years crossed all limits by virtually seizing the Speaker’s chair, “but the question today is of a Minister using unparliamentary words...you can ask the Parliamentary Affairs Minister”.
Seeing Speaker not taking any action, Sukhbir led the SAD-BJP MlAs into the well of the House. He was seen urging Phoolka to join them, which he declined. Speaker continued with House proceedings amidst sloganeering, and finally adjourned the House after 12 minutes protest. He held the closed door meetings with the opposition members and the Minsters to resolve the issue. In between, the House was adjourned twice more.
Sidhu refutes allegations
Plainly refuting the allegations that he has used castiest slur against SAD’s Dalit MlA Pawan Kumar Tinu, Cabinet Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu said SAD chief Sukhbir Badal was talking about maryaada, which he himself had never adhered to.
“I was addressing him ‘member saab’ several times, and once I said eho je member...and they are all after me,” he said.
He said that Sukhbir and Akalis have no answers to the issues he raise against them in the House. “Regarding Phoolka’s allegations, I had said that why you were leaving as you don’t sell ‘chitta’ (drugs)...and he too realised that later on that it wasn’t me who said something wrong but our some other honourable member,” he added.
Challenging the Badals for debate, Sidhu said that I won’t fight with your “pawns” like Titu, Tikku, Pikku, Tinu, “if you have courage, face me”.
Tinu charges Speaker with bias
Visibly upset, SAD MlA Pawan Kumar Tinu alleged that the Speaker of adopting one-sided attitude. “I have written to the Speaker against Sidhu over his anti-Dalit stance and would even approach the National SC Commission...We want him to apologise,” said Tinu.
Tinu said that this shows Sidhu’s mindset. “We all are same...we all come here after winning elections...last week, he also used swearwords. We are not here to be abused,” he said.