Bill on CPS post in Budget session, says Amarinder

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 28

Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh today said the Bill for the appointment of Chief Parliamentary Secretaries (CPSes) and Parliamentary Secretaries would be tabled during the Budget session in June.

Earlier, there were reports that the proposed Bill would be tabled in the ongoing Vidhan Sabha session.

Taking on former CM Parkash Singh Badal, who has announced to oppose the Bill, Amarinder said: “How can the former CM speak on the issue when 18 CPSes appointed by the SAD-BJP were termed illegal by the Punjab and Haryana High Court?”

He said the Bill would be legally vetted and the points raised by the High Court while quashing the appointment of the CPSes would be taken into account. He maintained that the ministers had a lot of work and attaching Parliamentary Secretaries of their choice would help them. The CM, however, refused to share the number of Parliamentary Secretaries to be appointed.

Speaking after the Governor’s Address, Amarinder said while the SAD-BJP government had appointed nearly 30 OSDs and advisers, the Congress had so far made 14 political appointments.

Talking to The Tribune, Finance Minister Manpreet Badal said: “First, the remaining ministers have to be inducted, only then can the CPSes will appointed.”

On bringing transparency in government functioning, Amarinder said the Lok Pal would be made more effective and the CM and ministers would be brought under its ambit.

On his commitment to end the drug menace in four weeks after coming to power, he said: “Already 200 persons involved in drug trafficking have been arrested in 10 days. We are not waiting for the STF to become operational. The ADGP-rank officer of the SFT, Harpreet Sidhu, would be joining by next Friday and he would have a clear mandate to act against peddlers.”