Speaker seeks time to decide on seat row

Jupinderjit Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 28

The confrontation between the Punjab Government and AAP over the allocation of Vidhan Sabha seats to MLAs of its alliance partner — the Lok Insaaf Party (LIP) — may continue in the next session as well, as today’s meeting between the Speaker and AAP leaders proved inconclusive.

Sources said Speaker Rana KP Singh heard a plea of Leader of Opposition HS Phoolka on allotting seats to LIP legislators — Simarjit Singh Bains and Balwinder Bains — with AAP MLAs, but did not take a decision. The Speaker sought time to study the matter.

Phoolka told The Tribune the meeting was fruitful, but the solution would be found in the next session, likely in June. “As AAP and LIP have a pre-poll alliance, the MLAs of the two parties have a legal right to sit together in the House. The government is trying to keep us separate,” he said.

Simarjit Singh said he and his brother would prefer sitting on the floor in the AAP block than move to the other side of the House. They sat with the AAP MLAs today as well.

AAP, meanwhile, criticised the Governor’s Address today, claiming that the Governor did not address the concerns plaguing the state. Phoolka said the plan to tackle important matters mentioned in the election manifesto of the Congress were missing from the address. “The proceedings regarding the address were not even tabled in the House.”

Before elections, the Leader of Opposition said, the Congress promised to waive farmer loans and pass a law in this regard. “No plan was laid out in this regard in today’s address. The government also failed to give a future plan on how to stop farmer suicide.”

The AAP leader said “goonda” tax allegedly charged by the mining mafia under the patronage of Akali leaders was still in place. “Now, Congress leaders have started collecting it. The government should issue a statement in this regard.”

AAP chief whip Sukhpal Singh Khaira said friendly ties between Congress and SAD leaders were exposed when the government failed to mark an inquiry into illegal transport, cable, liquor and sand business of Akali leaders.

“The Badals looted the state for 10 years. The common man suffered. But to the surprise of all, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh has not take action against them,” he said.

Guv silent on pollution: AAP MLA 

AAP MLA Nazar Singh Mansahia has criticised the Governor’s Address for not mentioning environment degradation in Punjab. An officer with the PPCB, Mansahia said the quality of air and water in Punjab had worsened over the years but no government had given attention to it. tns