Opposition parties — Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) — on Thursday hit the ruling Congress party hard over the issue of non-implementation of the 85th amendment related to reservation, while accusing the Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh of letting the bureaucracy run the State.
While AAP legislators staged a walkout over the issue, the Akali Dal MLA Baldev Singh Khaira demanded the privilege proceedings against Congress MLA Raj Kumar Chabbewal for lying in the House that the 85th Amendment had been implemented in the State. The issue was raised by AAP MLA and the Leader of Opposition Harpal Singh Cheema during the zero hour, pointing that a day before, it was claimed in the House that the 85th Amendment has been implemented in Punjab, whereas it was not, and the Government should clarify the status.
“The Chief Minister and the Governor have already given their approval to implement the 85th Amendment, but the same has not been implemented yet. The reason for this is that a letter has been issued by the Personnel Department secretary, after which it has been stopped. Not implementing the amendment is a gross insult to the Chief Minister elected by the people,” he said.
Intervening, the Social Welfare Minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot assured the House that the 85th Amendment would be implemented. Not contented, Cheema started shouting slogans demanding breach of privilege against the concerned IAS officer. Cheema was soon supported by the fellow AAP MLAs who then trooped in the well of the House and started shouting slogans, following which they are walked out of the House in protest.
Later, talking with the media, Cheema said that Punjab Government had passed the 85th Amendment in the Assembly which gives faster promotions and reservation to the Dalits of the State. “However, this Amendment is not being implemented in the State…Punjab Government had issued a notification which ordered the implementation of these amendments but the Department of Personnel issued a different notification which stopped its implementation,” he said.
He said that the Dalits constitute around 37 percent of the state’s population, but reservation in outsourcing and contract jobs does not apply.
“We have been constantly saying that Capt Amarinder is incapable of running the state. This has made it clear yet again. Capt Amarinder has left the State to be run by ‘babus’ while he enjoys in his farmhouse,” said Cheema adding that he neither had a sense of responsibility, nor did he have a shred of authority as “his own officers are rejecting the notification sent by him”.
During the Zero Hour, SAD MLA from Phiallur Baldev Singh Khaira demanded action for “breach of privilege” against Congress MLA Dr Rajkumar Chabbewal for misleading and lying in the House. Khaira said that Dr Chabbewal, while speaking in the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday, had stated that the 85th Constitutional Amendment, related to giving reservation in promotion to SC employees, has been implemented in Punjab.
He demanded strict action against Dr Chabbewal for trying to deceive the august House as well as Punjabis. “There is intense despair amongst SC employees that the 85th Amendment is not being enforced in the State despite repeated promises,” he said while also condemning the Congress party for giving lip sympathy to the Dalit community but not doing anything to ameliorate its lot.
Later, talking with the media, Khaira said that he was also part of the Welfare Committee which had discussed this issue since the last three years and had tried to get the 85th Amendment implemented in the State.
“Besides taking action against the Congress legislator, the Vidhan Sabha should also take note as to why SC employees are being discriminated against in this manner. Action should also be taken against all officers who are coming in the way of implementing the 85th Amendment,” he said adding that the Akali Dal would force the Government to implement the same in the State.
AAP QUESTIONS ALLOTMENT OF LAND, MEANT FOR PUBLIC HOSPITALS, TO PRIVATE
Accusing the Congress-led Punjab Government of favouring the private players in the health sector, the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) Dirba MLA and the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Vidhan Sabha Harpal Singh Cheema on Thursday questioned the Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh as to why the land meant for public hospitals was being allotted to private hospitals.Cheema, raising the issue during the Zero Hour on the fourth day of the budget session, said that the Congress Government had allotted one acre land, that had been allotted for the expansion of Mohali Government Hospital, to Max Hospital.
The land was allocated to SAS Nagar Medical College which was a 200-bed hospital.
“The hospital was expanding its capacity to 400 beds for which the one acre land was allotted to them. However, the Captain government allotted this land to the neighbouring Max Hospital. Does Capt Amarinder not want the public health infrastructure in the State to develop? Why is he favouring expensive private players over economic public hospitals?” he questioned.
Besides, Cheema also raised the issue of flouting the reservation rules during the recruitment of three and four employees, who are recruited on contract in the State. “By doing so, not only the reservation of SC candidates, but also the BC and women are being ignored,” said Cheema while demanding from the State Government to take action in the matter.
AAP MLA RAISES ISSUE OF FIRs REGISTERED AGAINST NODEEP, FARMERS
AAP MLA from Talwandi Sabo Baljinder Kaur, referring to the action taken by the Delhi Police against young farmers hailing from Bangi Nihal Singh Wala village near Talwandi Sabo, said that the Punjab Government should talk to the Centre in this matter urging it to withdraw all the false cases filed against the farmers.
“Cases are registered against seven farmers from my constituency alone. In addition, hundreds of farmers in Punjab are locked up in jails,” she said.
AAP MLA alleged that false cases were being registered against the farmers as part of BJP’s ploy on January 26 to defame them. “There could be no greater shame than the fact that various sections of treason were being imposed on the annadatas of the country. The Congress party calls itself farmer-friendly, but I would like to ask what action has been taken by the Captain government so far to cancel the cases registered against the farmers. Why aren’t these cases being cancelled?” she asked.
Adding, Kaur said that the youth and the elderly had been subjected to third degree torture. Also raising the issue of labour activist Nodeep Kaur, she said that an FIR was filed against “Punjab’s daughter” by Haryana’s Khattar Government and was tortured. “Why the Captain government is still asleep….Why is the government not doing anything to cancel these false cases?” she questioned.
HEALTH DEPT URGED TO ABSORB VOLUNTEERS, WHO WORKED DURING COVID TIMES
AAP MLA from Maur Jagdev Singh Kamalu has urged the Punjab Health Department to absorb the volunteers, hired during the corona pandemic for a variety of tasks, instead of dispensing with their services. “The State Government had hired a number of volunteers for a variety of tasks during the corona period, and these volunteers offered their services to the State Government in those difficult times, when people were afraid to move out of their houses. But as soon as the Mission Fateh was over, they were removed from their jobs. In fact, the volunteers of Bathinda have not been paid salaries for the months of November and December,” said Kamalu.
PROVIDE JOBS TO TWO SONS OF COMRADE BALWINDER SINGH: FATEHJUNG
Congress MLA from Qadian Fatehjung Bajwa demanded jobs for the two sons of Shaurya Chakra awardee Comrade Balwinder Singh, who was known for fighting bravely against terrorism for years but was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Tarn Taran district in October last. “Comrade Balwinder and his family showed bravery for a long time and fought against the terrorists. But, during the lockdown, their police security was cut down giving an opportunity to the miscreants to attack and kill him,” said Fatehjung while urging the State Government to “stand with the brave family”.
AYALI ALLEGES CASES AGAINST AKALI LEADERS OUT OF POLITICAL VENDETTA
Raising the issues filed due to “political vendetta”, SAD MLA from Dakha Manpreet Singh Ayali alleged that the baseless and redundant cases were being registered against the sarpanches owing allegiance to the SAD, on the basis of which, they were being suspended so that a Congress worker could be elected sarpanch.
“The same was done with the sarpanches of Issewal and Sarabha villages. The Issewal village sarpanch has been accused of seizing Shamlat land. If the charge against the sarpanch is proved, I will resign from the post of MLA,” he said.
CAPT’S ‘GHAR GHAR NAUKRI’ PROMISE PROVING TO BE JUMLA: BAINS
Lok Insaaf Party MLA from Atamnagar Simarjit Singh Bains said that the Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh’s promise of giving jobs is proving to be an “electoral jumla”. However, Bains came up with a suggestion for the Chief Minister. “If the Government is serious about giving jobs to the youth of Punjab, they should pass a similar law as was done by the neighbouring Haryana, by making a provision to give 75 percent quota to local resident youth in all jobs in the private sector, with less than Rs 50,000 per month salary. This will not only provide employment to the youth but the Congress’ promise of ‘Ghar Ghar Naukri’ will also be fulfilled,” he added.
