M A I N   N E W S

SAD-BJP combine boycotts Governor’s Address
Vote-on-account today
Tribune News Service

* Commenting on the Governor’s Address, the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, said, “It was an insipid address and did not relate to the reality on the ground”. * Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said “We did not see a single Akali even open the copy of the Governor’s Address. How can it be called insipid”? Their action to boycott and walkout is irresponsible and tantamount to disrespect to the Governor”.

The Akalis led by Mr Parkash Singh Badal stage a walkout from the Punjab Vidhan Sabha in Chandigarh on Monday. — A Tribune photograph

Chandigarh, March 15
The Akali-BJP combine staged a walkout when the Governor, Justice O P Verma, addressed the Punjab Vidhan Sabha on the opening day of a two-day session here today.

As soon the Governor started with his Address, Akali MLA, Manpreet Singh Badal stood up and began making a parallel speech, which lasted about 20 minutes. Thereafter, the Opposition walked out, shouting slogans against the Amarinder Government.

In his first Address to the Vidhan Sabha as the Governor of Punjab, Justice Verma highlighted the achievements of his government. In view of the model code of conduct, he avoided any reference to future plans of the government. He reiterated various “commitments” the government had made to the people during the Assembly elections February, 2002.

The Governor urged the members belonging to different political parties to make a common cause with the government for defending the legitimate interests of the state. This observation was made in the context of the Supreme Court order of January 15, 2002, on the construction of the SYL canal for carrying surplus Ravi-Beas waters to Haryana. He shared his government’s “deep concern” with the House over this decision.

He declared that his government was committed to defending the interests of the state and its hardworking farmers, whose nine lakh acres in the south-western districts would be virtually rendered barren due to the diversion of water to Haryana.

Justice Verma referred to his government’s resolve to accelerate the pace of development while building upon gains, which would accrue on account of fiscal consolidation, good governance and eradication of corruption.

The Address referred to the steps the government had taken to ameliorate the lot of people, particularly, the weaker sections — Scheduled Castes and Dalits, farmers and employees.

The Governor’s Address took cognizance of the constitution of a committee headed by Dr S.S. Johl to suggest ways and means to generate resources to improve the performance of the Annual Plan (2004-05), reiterating that the government accorded high priority to successful implementation of the Annual Plans.

A vote-on-account will be presented in the House tomorrow.

In his parallel address, Mr Manpreet Singh Badal stated that though the Akali Dal had great respect for the Governor, the party was constrained to talk about people and their problems as the government had acted in an irresponsible manner towards people’s aspirations and expectations. Copies of the parallel speech were distributed among the mediapersons in the Press lounge.

When the House re-assembled after a brief recess, obituary references were made to at least 15 eminent persons, who had died since the holding of the last session of the House. Those listed for obituary reference included former MPs, MLAs and freedom fighters. They were Mr Bhan Singh Bhaura, Mr S.B. Chavan, Mr Gurmail Singh Cheema, Mr Bachan Singh, Mr Bhag Singh, Mr Daya Singh, Mr Balwant Rai Tayal, Mr Mukhtiar Singh, Mr Harbans Singh, Mohammad Sharif Khan, Mr Jagdish Chander, Mr Didar Singh Sandhu, Mr Nand Singh, Major Jaswant Singh and Mr Manmohan Singh Bajaj.