Chandigarh, June 16: Abuses flew thick and fast in the Punjab Assembly on Friday as SAD and Congress MLAs exchanged words over the alleged use of unparliamentary language against Tourism and Culture Minister Navjot Sidhu after he blamed SAD chief Sukhbir Badal for the failed tourism project at Harike.
As Sidhu struggled to match the shouting by SAD MLAs during Question Hour, Congress MLAs Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, Kuljit Singh Nagra, Parminder Singh Pinky, Rana Sodhi and others stormed into the Well of the House and exchanged words with SAD legislators.
SAD MLA Rozy Barkandi was even pushed by Ghanaur MLA Thekedar Madan Lal Jalalpura.
Following this, Speaker Rana KP adjourned the House for a third time.
Earlier, as soon as the Speaker announced the name of Ajaib Singh Bhatti as the Deputy Speaker, SAD-BJP MLAs came to the Well of the House and started raising slogans over the “government’s failure” to waive farmers’ loans as promised. The protesters included Pawan Kumar Teenu, Ajit Singh Kohar, NK Sharma, Harinder Pal Singh Chandumajra and Arun Narang.
The protests became louder as Sidhu got up to reply. Sidhu lost his temper while replying to a question on the Harike project after comments were passed against him. An enraged Sidhu spoke about the alleged illegal activities of the Badals. He said the Harike project was doomed, adding that the Badals had gifted the PRTC a loss of Rs 350 crore just to profit their own transport venture.
Speaking after the third adjournment, an exasperated Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh said, “Frustrated by the loss in the recent elections the SAD is trying to impress the farmers. I am not scared of anyone. Where were they for 10 years? We are coming up with a debt waiver in the budget next week. Give us some time.”
In a separate development, the Speaker ordered the security to seize the mobile phone of Bholath MLA Sukhpal Khaira following a complaint by Congress legislators. Khaira was seen filming the proceedings of the House and posting them on Facebook.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Brahm Mohindra said recording the proceedings of the House and making them public is unlawful. AAP MLAs stood up in protest saying a majority of Congress MLAs had mobile phones with them. Khaira walked out of the House while the ruckus continued and the Speaker once again adjourned the House.
In reply to the questions concerning the shortage of staff in the health sector raised by Gurkirat Singh, Kulbir Singh Zira and Rajnish Kumar, Health Minister Brahm Mohindra said the Chief Minister had already spoken about the shortage of funds needed to appoint staff and they were coming up with a solution soon.
News Source: http://www.tribuneindia.com
