The budget session of Punjab Vidhan Sabha, to be held in two phases in the wake of G20 Summit in Amritsar from March 15 to 17, is expected to be high-octane with opposition ready with enough ammunition to attack the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
Apart from taking on the ruling party for its unfulfilled promises, especially its pre-poll “guarantee” of Rs 1000 for women, the Opposition — Congress, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) — is set to corner the Government over the issue of law and order, particularly in the wake of recent clashes at Ajnala police station, and inside Goindwal central jail.
As the AAP-led State Government will present its first “full” budget this time, the main focus would be on health, education, agriculture and allied activities.
The budget session will begin on Friday with Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit’s address to the assembly — amidst strained relations with the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.
At loggerheads with each other since long over a slew of issues, the latest flashpoint between the two was the Governor’s refusal to give consent to the Punjab Cabinet’s decision to summon Vidhan Sabha’s Budget session from March 3.
In his letter on February 23, Purohit had made it clear that he would take decision only after getting a legal advice over Mann’s “derogatory” and “unconstitutional” tweet and letter addressed to him on February 13 and 14, respectively.
Governor, in a letter addressed to the Chief Minister, had reminded him the tweet and letter in which Mann had not only refused to respond to the “significant” issues raised by Purohit, but had also apparently challenged his authority while asking Purohit to first “explain the qualifications” for appointing a person on the coveted post of the Governor by the Centre.
“Since your tweet and letter both are not only patently unconstitutional but extremely derogatory also, therefore, I am compelled to take legal advice on this issue. Only after getting legal advice. I will take decision on your request,” Purohit had stated in his letter.
On Sunday, Mann had announced the Government’s decision to seek the Supreme Court’s intervention to conduct the budget session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha via Twitter — indicating that the AAP Government is in no mood to bow down before the Governor, and, in fact, would fight it out in the country’s Apex Court.
In the Supreme Court, Purohit had submitted that he has summoned the budget session from March 3. Following this, the Apex Court made it clear that the Governor was duty-bound to summon the assembly session once the State Cabinet recommends it, and so is the Chief Minister to furnish information sought by the Governor.
As the budget session is now set to begin, opposition parties are eyeing an opportunity to corner the government over the law and order situation in the state.
On February 23, supporters of radical preacher and Khalistan sympathizer Amritpal Singh stormed a police station in Ajnala on the outskirts of Amritsar brandishing swords and guns to extract an assurance from the police that his aide and kidnapping accused Lovepreet Singh will be released.
“Deteriorating law and order and corruption are the major issues which will be raised (during the session),” deputy Congress legislative party leader Raj Kumar Chabbewal said.
Kumar, the legislator from Chabbewal, also targeted the Government over alleged extortion calls to businessmen and the recent clash between gangsters in Tarn Taran jail that resulted in the death of two criminals held in connection with singer Sidhu Moosewala murder case.
The BJP, too, has targeted the AAP government, demanding the Governor’s rule in the state.
Responding to the rising criticism of his government, Chief Minister Mann, who holds the home affairs portfolio, previously said that his Government would maintain law and order and no one will be allowed to disturb the peace.
The budget session will be held in two phases. The first phase will begin on March 3 and continue till March 11 before a break for two G20 meetings to be held in Amritsar.
The second phase of the budget session will commence from March 22 and will continue till March 24.
Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema is scheduled to present the budget for financial year 2023-24 on March 10.
After coming to power in March last year, the AAP government had first passed a vote on account on March 22 and then it presented its budget in June for the remaining part of the year.
