Chandigarh, December 24
Senior Pakistani journalist Aroosa Alam’s arrival in the state rocked the Assembly today for a while. Aroosa, who claims to be a friend of former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, arrived here last evening and left for Patiala later in the evening accompanied by former Chief Minister to stay at Moti Bagh Palace.

The issue relating to Aroosa came up in the Punjab Assembly when Virsa Singh Valtoha, an Akali MLA from Valtoha, got up to ask speaker Nirmal Singh Kahlon, on the fate of his adjournment motion moved to discuss the arrival of Aroosa in Punjab. Though the speaker did not allow the adjournment motion and also disallowed any discussion on it, Valtoha continued virtually screaming in the House to request the speaker to allow the adjournment motion on the issue which he described as most important one and related to the security of the state.

After the raising of the issue by Valtoha, Bikram Singh Majithia, public relations minister, started waiving a copy of The Tribune. He started reading from the news item relating to Aroosa that had appeared on the front page of the paper today. Aroosa, who met some media persons yesterday, had made to the front pages of certain newspapers this morning. She had clarified all stories with regard to her marriage to Amarinder Singh were false and being spread by vested interests. Even she had agreed to answer all queries of media in this regard on December 26.

Later, Hira Singh Gabaria, another minister, joined Majithia. Akali and BJP MLAs, including Sher Singh Gubhaya, Mohan Lal, Amarjit Singh Shahi and Jagdish Sahni also got up to take on the opposition. Usually, such issues are raised by MLAs and ministers, by way of tradition, to avoid raising or taking part in such matters in the House.

And on the other hand, Congress MLAs also got up to counter what was being spoken against Aroosa Alam and Amarinder Singh by Valtoha, other Akali and BJP MLAs and ministers. Among the Congress MLAs, who were up on their feet in defence of Amarinder Singh, included Makhan Singh, Ajaib Singh Bhatti, Jeet Mohinder Singh, Ajit Inder Singh Mofar, Randeep Singh Nabha, Mangat Rai Bansal, Kewal Singh Dhillon, Ripjit Singh Brar, Jassi Khanugra and Sukhpal Singh Khaira.

However, what was spoken in the House on this issue without the permission was expunged by the speaker on the request made by Avtar Singh Brar, a senior Congress MLA. Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, leader of the Opposition, who intervened in the issue, said as Amarinder Singh was not present in the House, such an issue should not be discussed. She said it was a personal matter of Amarinder Singh and it should have not been raised in the House. Valtoha urged Chief Minister, Parkash Singh Badal to make a statement what action would be taken on this issue. Though Badal did not speak and witnessed the ear splitting noise in the House silently but intervening in the other matter he indirectly took a shot on Amarinder Singh and Aroosa. Pointing towards Congress MLAs, he said “ smile also comes on your faces whenever Aroosa’s name is mentioned”.