Clarity begins at home! If you want to end superstitions and beliefs, forget the enactment of laws, rings and yagas! Just set your own mind in order.
The message was heard loud and clear without the chants of touch-wood in the Assembly on Thursday afternoon, as the Punjab MLAs in one voice did not agree to a resolution for enacting a law to check growing superstitions and beliefs in the state.
Besides setting their own mindset in order before asking others not to be superstitious, the legislators, cutting across the party lines, also stressed on improving the standards of education besides providing psychiatrists in state hospitals to stop such superstitious malpractices of blindly following the soothsayers, palmists, and even visiting deras.
MLAs debated on the BJP MLA Som Parkash’s non-official resolution, “to recommend to the State Government to enact a law in Punjab on the pattern of Maharashtra Government to prevent exploitation of a particular class of society due to growing superstitions and beliefs in the State so that effective steps can be taken against such incidents in the society”, for nearly three hours.
Many of them called upon others to set an example and lead from the front to either act against such people who promote superstition, or ban such advertisements.
AAP MLA Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer stressed that there was a need to make the people aware and that would only be possible if we strengthen the education and health sectors. He pointed that there are no psychiatrists because of which people visit these “babas and tantriks” to get their problems solved.
SAD MLA Pawan Kumar Tinu added that the issue is related with the illiteracy and there was a need to provide quality scientific education. He listed out the Ministers, without naming them, who believed in these superstitions, in clear indication towards Navjot Singh Sidhu and Charanjit Singh Channi.
“People follow them...they should set an example,” he said while adding that things would not improve till education is strengthened.
Congress MLA Kuljit Singh Nagra said that all MLAs have been empowered to act against such self-styled godmans, seers, and others. “We have to take this upon us...but we indulge in politics for votes,” he added.
BJP MLA Parkash reminded Finance Minister Manpreet Badal that the House had earlier passed a resolution to give Rs five lakh grant to those villages who would have a common cremation ground. Objecting to the same, Congress MLA Raja Amarinder Singh Warring said that such grants should not be given as it would set a wrong example.
“We should be the role models...people follow us...let us all resolve not to follow such people and remove these discriminatory practices, rather than promoting them,” he said.
Congress MLA Gurkirat Singh Kotli demanded that the government should ban the advertisements on television and newspapers. Cabinet Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu accused SGPC of not fulfilling its role of promoting Sikh teachings among the people.
Underlining that the state did not need such “baseless discussion” and resolutions, Congress MLA Nathu Ram called upon all MLAs “to decided by themselves as the people look upon us...All we need is to put our heads together and deliberate issue concerning our youth, farmers, and all sections”.
HEATED EXCHANGE OF WORDS BETWEEN NAGRA-SHARMA
Following the heated exchange of words between the Congress MLA Kuljit Singh Nagra and SAD’s NK Sharma, the House has decided to hold an “inquiry” into the properties of the two leaders in past 12 years.
During a debate on resolution discussing to enact a law against superstition, the two leaders come face-to-face over the religious practices they follow.
pointed that the people flocked to pandits, and indicated at Sharma while showing his writ to point that the Akali MLA wear religious thread on his wrist, and added that Sharmas are also pundits — which failed to go down well with the SAD leader.
Raising objection, Sharma pointed that no one had the right to ridicule other’s religion and beliefs. Losing his cool, Sharma said something about Nagra’s wife, following which the Congress and SAD MLAs exchanged barbs.
As the two sparred and continue to level allegations against each other, charged-up Nagra went on to demand an inquiry into the huge empire Sharma has built over the past 12 years, and also into his own assets.
On this, the Parliamentary Affairs Minister Brahm Mohindra asked the Speaker to give his approval and set up a House panel to look into it. “We will get the inquiry conducted,” said the Speaker.
SCHOOLS GIRLS ABOVE SIX TO GET FREE SANITARY NAPKINS IN SCHOOLS
Responding to AAP MLA Sarabjit Kaur Manuke’s issue regarding young schoolgirls suffering from infections and diseases due to poor hygiene, Education Minister OP Soni announced that sanitary napkins would be provided to the school girls, above six years, free of cost in the schools.
“Rs 10 crore has been sanctioned for the same and tendering process has been done. The sanitary napkins will be provided to the girls above six-seven years in schools soon,” said Soni.
WEDDING BELLS RINGS IN VIDHAN SABHA
AAP MLA Prof Baljinder Kaur extended an invitation for her marriage during the Vidhan Sabha session. Speaker Rana KP Singh “off the record” informed the House about her wedding and read out the invitation officially.
AAP leader, who is going to tie a knot with party youth wing convener from Majha region Sukhraj Singh Bal, then personally extended the invitation to all the House members.
Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh extended greetings to her on the behalf of all Congress MLAs and wished her bright and happy future, to which, Prof Baljinder, shyly chuckling, asked him to certainly attend her wedding reception on February 19 at Amritsar.
