Noisy scenes in Punjab Assembly as SAD, AAP MLAs stage walkout

Rajmeet Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 22

Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Thursday sought permission of the Assembly Speaker to implement the rules regarding the prohibition of audio-visual recording of the proceedings of the House.

The Speaker assured Charanjit Channi to probe the sharing of the audio recording by LIP MLA Simarjit Bains.

The issue was raised as soon as the proceedings of the House began.

Navjot Sidhu and Channi said that despite rules disallowing audio/video recording, the audio recording was shared by Bains.

On Sukhpal Khaira’s demand, the CM assured the House that compensation, as per rules, would be given to the Punjabis killed in Iraq.

On the issue, Bikram Majithia entered into a heated argument with Khaira.

Khaira demanded Rs 1 crore compensation and government jobs to the families of the victims.

The Punjab decision to leave its share of GST on langar results in heated arguments with SAD MLAs.

The House was adjourned for half an hour as Navjot Sidhu entered into a heated argument with Bikram Majithia after Sidhu talked about the drugs issue. Congress MLAs joined Sidhu on the issue.

There was a credit war between Congress and Akali MLAs over waiving of state GST share on langar at religious places. After SAD MLA Parminder Dhindsa said the Centre was ready to waive its share of GST, Congress MLAs said the Centre had changed its stand after Capt Amarinder Singh took the initiative.

Akali and BJP MLAs stormed into the Well of the House after not being allowed to bring in an adjournment motion.

AAP leader Kanwar Sandhu spoke on “non-cooperation from the bureaucracy” regarding finalising of reports of different committees of the Vidhan Sabha. He cited “non-cooperation” regarding the excise department, and demanded opening of the proceedings to the press.

Raising slogans, Akali-BJP MLAs walked out of the House.

AAP and LIP MLAs walked out after Khaira was not allowed to speak during the conduct of financial business.