Tossing of turbans leads to Opposition protest in Punjab Assembly

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 23

Members of the Opposition — SAD-BJP and the AAP —walked out of the Punjab Assembly on Friday to protest the “denigration of Sikh principles” the day before when some MLAs were forcibly evicted from the House.

Today, even non-Sikh Akali MLAs were seen wearing turbans while all SAD MLAs wore black robes over their clothes to protest against the turban tossing incident.

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In an unprecedented step, the Punjab Speaker yesterday ordered that all 19 Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs be forcibly evicted from the Vidhan Sabha.

Marshals then physically lifted the MLAs, holding them by their arms and legs, causing injuries to some.

Two legislators were hospitalised, even as women MLAs claimed they were inappropriately handled.

The turbans of at least four — Pirmal Singh Dhaula, Manjit Singh Bilaspur, Jai Kishan Singh Rodi and Amarjit Singh Sandoa — were flung into the air, triggering a controversy over the “insult” to the Sikh symbol.

Today, AAP MLAs also set up a symbolic “shop” of cartelised sand, which they alleged that the Congress has taken over from Akalis, just outside the Assembly.

“Speaker should be unbiased. But he got the women MLAs molested and turbans of Gursikhs were tossed. We supported AAP because there was complete violation of ‘maryada’ in the House,” SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal said.                      

But we cannot expect more from Congress — which is an anti-Sikh party, he said.

“Punjab’s people, especially Sikhs will not spare them (Congress). Today, we are meeting the Punjab Governor against the Speaker for his “gunda gardi,” he said.                      

“It is shameful that Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh said that the AAP MLAs had themselves removed their turbans. Speaker Rana KP Singh and Leader of the House Capt Amarinder Singh should seek forgiveness from Sikhs,” Sukhbir said.                

As question hour began, SAD-BJP and AAP legislators were on their feet, seeking a debate on yesterday’s incident.

Furious at what had happened, Opposition legislators described what happened as “hurting the religious sentiments” of the Sikh community.

Demanding a debate, Leader of Opposition HS Phoolka and Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal said it was a denigration of Sikh principles.

Speaker Rana KP Singh asked the Opposition to stop raising slogans and assured them that he would take a decision on their demand after question hour was over.

Opposition legislators were unrelenting in their demand, however. SAD-BJP members, followed by AAP, gathered near the Speaker’s podium, raising slogans even as question hour continued.

They later trooped out of the House.