Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan on Monday took strong note of the absence of Cabinet Ministers and the legislators during the question hour. Expressing displeasure, he asked the Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr Inderbir Singh Nijjar to ensure the presence of the Ministers and the MLAs, whose questions have been listed for the day.
“Please make sure that the Ministers, whose questions have been listed in the question hour, should remain present in the House to answer the queries of the MLAs. In case, they have some other important work, they can authorize any other Minister in their place to respond to the question,” the Speaker asked the Parliamentary Affairs Minister to ensure.
The Speaker’s directions to the Minister came when his noticed that MLA balkar Singh, whose question has been listed, was absent while the Public Works Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO was present to answer his question.
Sandhawan asked Dr Nijjar to talk to his Ministers to convey that it was necessary for them to remain present in the House during the Question Hour, so that the questions raised by the legislators can be answered. “Along with this, the dignity of the question hour should also be maintained,” he added.
Dr Nijjar assured the Speaker that he would talk to the Ministers, and their presence would be ensured.
In all, five questions, out of total 20 listed, were postponed to the next day due to the absence of ministers concerned. During the question hour on the second day of the budget session, three ministers — Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains, and Defence Services Welfare Minister Chetan Singh Jauramajra—were absent other than nearly 20 MLAs.
Among others, the questions listed were regarding introducing of skill development course in the state’s schools; regularizing 1978 vocational trainers recruited in 2014; releasing funds to repair Ropar’s government college; and sanctioned posts of District Sainik Welfare Officers.
Warring’s T-Shirt Was All Eyes
Punjab Congress president and Gidderbaha MLA Amrinder Singh Raja Warring was all eyes on Monday. Donning a specially-printed T-shirt having news clippings of all major law and order incidents during the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) almost a year’s rule in Punjab, Warring lashed out at the ruling party during Zero Hour raising issues of threat calls to slain Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala’s father, Ajnala clashes, among others.
“Punjab police, which was known for its strength and courage, looked so helpless during recent incidents,” said Warring, alleging that AAP Government was showing a totally different picture of Punjab’s law and order which is far from the reality.
Stating daylight killings are the order of the day, he said: “Even our police stations are not safe now…In the last 40 years, it has not happened what we witnessed in Ajnala. They took over the police station…and till date…no action has been taken.”
Talking about the threats received by Sidhu Moosewala’s father Balkaur Singh, Warring said: “He has been demanding justice for a year now. What to talk of justice, they are now receiving threats.”
Taking to Twitter, Warring tweeted, “Each & every Punjabi feels that the law & order situation of the state have collapsed but @PunjabGovtIndia continues to disregard facts. @PunjabPoliceInd failed to act against those who attacked its senior officials. @INCPunjab MLAs have sworn to be people’s voice at the VS.”
Restore Freedom of Press, Demand Cong’s Bajwa, SAD’s Ayali
Condemning the move to bar the entry of a section of media persons, including that of Ajit newspaper, besides stopping government ads, leader of opposition and Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa and SAD MLA Manpreet Singh Ayali insisted on restoring the freedom of press. “The House should condemn this…Your party came in the name of badlav (change)…Is this badlav? I request you to please restore the freedom of press, freedom of democracy,” said Bajwa, raising the issue in the presence of Information and Public Relations Minister Aman Arora. Later, the Speaker clarified that there was some procedural fault, and the said media houses have been issued passes for covering the session and also allotted seats.
AAP’s MLA Takes Dig at Opp for Objecting to Governor Saying ‘My Govt’
AAP MLA from Amritsar East Jeevan Jyot Kaur took a dig at the opposition for raising objection over the Governor calling the state government as “my government”.
“The Opposition was all hullabaloo over the Governor saab referring to AAP Government as ‘my government’. Why would not he refer to AAP Government, which has been working for the people, taking so many decisions for them, as my government when he has been calling your (pointing towards the Congress, SAD member) nikammi (worthless) government as ‘my government’,” she quipped.
The first-time MLA, who defeated Congress’ Navjot Singh Sidhu and SAD’s Bikram Majithia, listed out AAP Government’s initiatives and decisions during its one year tenure. “The government fulfilled its many promises and guarantees and even those which it had not even promised,” she said while initiating the discussion on the Governor’s address.
