BJP must support no-trust move: Cong

Varinder Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 22

The second day of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha session tomorrow is likely to be stormy as Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and the SAD have already turned down the demand of the BJP and the Congress to seek Revenue Minister Bikram Majithia’s resignation.

Sunil Jakhar, CLP Leader, has apprised Vidhan Sabha Secretary Shashi Lakhanpal Mishra on the party’s intent to bring a no-confidence motion against the government. The letter of the CLP Leader would go to Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal, who would consider giving time for a discussion on the issue.

The CLP letter reads: “The growing drug abuse in Punjab is threatening the very future of the youth. The Council of Ministers has failed to check the menace of drug trafficking. Some ministers and MLAs of the ruling party are also being investigated for their alleged role in drug trade. Hence, the House has lost its confidence in the Council of Ministers headed by Parkash Singh Badal.”

“The SAD-BJP government has lost any legitimate right to remain in power after the summoning of Majithia by the ED. The summons are nothing but a ‘kamal suneha’ by the BJP top brass to its ally in Punjab — the SAD. The BJP should either support the no-confidence motion or it should come out with a similar motion and we will support them,” said CLP leader Sunil Jakhar.

Jakhar was flanked by senior party leaders Rana Gurjit Singh, Jagmohan Kang, Tarlochan Soondh and Ramanjit Sikki. Former CM Rajinder Kaur Bhattal joined the CLP Leader later.

Exhorting the BJP to help put an end to the “tyrannical” rule in the state, Jakhar said if the BJP was against drugs, it should support the no-confidence motion. “Since BJP chief Kamal Sharma has already demanded Majithia’s resignation, there should be no hitch in supporting the no-confidence motion,” Jakhar said.

He said the BJP had been part of the Badal government for over seven years. So, it could not absolve itself of the responsibility by just creating ruckus on drug menace and seeking Majithia's resignation.