Irked over separate seats, Oppn MLAs storm Well

Sanjeev Singh Bariana

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 29

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs and their allies Bains brothers of the Lok Insaf Party today stormed the Well of the House, saying that the Speaker was not allowing them to sit together.

Accusing Speaker Rana KP Singh of being biased, and dictatorial, AAP chief whip Sukhpal Khaira said: “BJP MLAs always sat with Akali MLAs in the House. Why cannot our allies sit with us? The Speaker is pushing the Bains brothers to a corner as the government feared the voice that had unnerved the earlier SAD-BJP government.”

“The same Congress legislators had slept in the Assembly for not being heard. Why are the speakers being switched off when MLAs Balwinder Singh Bains and Simarjeet Singh Bains stand up to speak?” Khaira said.

The Speaker said: “I had allowed the Bains brothers to sit with AAP MLAs, but told them that they would not be allowed to speak till a decision on their seats was taken.”

Congress MLAs Navjot Sidhu, SS Randhawa, Bharat Bhushan Ashu, Rana Gurmeet Sodhi and Amrinder Singh Raja Warring spoke against the protesting MLAs.

Addressing the media, Leader of the Opposition HS Phoolka said: “The Speaker never told us that they (Bains brothers) will not be allowed to speak. He is lying.”

He said: “The Congress is being autocratic not merely in the sitting arrangements but also in not allowing Opposition to voice their opinion on issues such as no discussion on the Governor’s Address and the appointment of Atul Nanda as the Advocate General despite his being a lawyer of Amarinder.”

Kharar MLA Kanwar Sandhu asked the Speaker to form a committee comprising members from all parties to decide on the seating arrangement.