Stretchers out in Punjab House

"AAP MLAs and the Akalis are conspiring to disrupt proceedings of the House. Action should be taken against all legislators who have been breaking Assembly rules and throwing papers at the Speaker, besides creating a ruckus over non-issues

Capt Amarinder Singh, Chief Minister

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If elected representatives are treated like this, imagine how the ruling party will behave with the commoners. Turbans of MLAs came off… it’s an insult to the Sikh community

Sukhbir Singh Badal, Akali Dal president

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Any effort to disrupt the House proceedings for petty political interests would not be tolerated. Anarchist activities (by Opposition MLAs) are against the sanctity of the august House

Rana KP Singh, Vidhan Sabha Speaker

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Marshals attacked AAP leaders on the Speaker’s directions. They removed turbans of five MLAs and misbehaved with women legislators. I thank the SAD and SGPC for showing support and concern

HS Phoolka, Leader of opposition

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Badal has forgotten how his party legislators had, in June 1986, dragged the then Speaker Surjit Singh Minhas from his chair. In the melee, Minhas’ turban had come off. Badal never apologised for that. Now, he is shedding crocodile tears… the entire drama was enacted by the SAD and AAP

Sunil Jakhar, PPCC president

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I have never seen such a brazen display of brutality unleashed against elected representatives, and that too in the temple of democracy

Bir Devinder Singh, former Deputy Speaker

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Turban is the pride of a Sikh. It is unfortunate that turbans are tossed at a place from where the elected members enact laws and take vital decisions for the state. The incident is condemnable. I demand stern action against the marshals involved in the act

Giani Gurbachan Singh, Akal Takht jathedar

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OTHER HAPPENINGS 

Nagra vs Majithia

A heated exchange took place between former Revenue Minister and Majitha MLA Bikram Singh Majithia and Congress legislator Kuljit Singh Nagra. Majithia wondered what level of studies Nagra had pursued for 12 years at Panjab University. The latter retorted, "I have five degrees and you don't even have a diploma. In fact, you have nothing except your brother-in-law Sukhbir Badal. Í am proud to be a self-made man". Not impressed by his claims, Majithia repeatedly asked the Congress leader to spell "proud". TNS

Probe into land scam

The CM ordered an inquiry into the alleged multi-crore rural land scam in Fatehgarh Sahib by the Gram Panchayat, Jheurheri. He was intervening on a call attention notice raised by Mohali MLA Balbir Singh Sidhu regarding the purchase of land at almost double the prevailing market rate. Sidhu informed the House that officials did not seek sanction from the competent authority before purchasing the land. Crores withdrawn were spent only on paper instead of being utilized for actual development works. Thus, a VB should be ordered, he demanded. TNS

Sports kit distribution to be investigated

Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh has promised a thorough probe into alleged irregularities in the distribution of sports kits among the youth clubs under the then SAD-BJP rule. The assurance came from the Chief Minister in the Vidhan Sabha on Thursday in response to a question asked by Congress MLA Rajinder Beri during question hour. TNS

Tight security in place

Additional security was deployed at the Vidhan Sabha. Specialised police teams, such as SWAT, were present inside the House. A posse of cops was deployed at the entrance for MLAs. The watch and ward staff, right after they had thrown out the AAP MLAs, were seen flocking Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, touching his feet for blessings. TNS