Punjab Assembly adopts censure motion against Bajwa over remarks on Seechewal

Amid noisy scenes and verbal clashes between the treasury and the opposition Congress benches, the Punjab Vidhan Sabha on Thursday adopted a censure motion against Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa for his comments on environmentalist and AAP Rajya Sabha MP Balbir Singh Seechewal.

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The motion was passed in the absence of Congress MLAs, who thrice staged a walkout over not being allowed to speak during the zero hour. The motion, however, elicited support from SAD MLA Manpreet Singh Ayali and suspended Congress MLA Sandeep Jakhar.

Amid accusations and counter-accusations, the House was adjourned twice even as Cabinet minister and AAP MLAs sought an apology from Bajwa, who refused to budge. Reiterating his comments on Seechewal made in the House yesterday, the CLP leader attacked the ruling party for promoting the MP's failed Seechewal model to clean village ponds and described the environmentalist as a contractor, who had no scientific knowledge.

As the ruckus continued for nearly two hours, hardly any member could raise their issues during the zero hour. Countering the ruling party’s onslaught on him, Bajwa accused Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan and the treasury benches of orchestrating a deliberate move to stifle his voice, as he sought a resolution to seek the Bharat Ratna for Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh. Instead of allowing Congress MLAs to speak on the Budget, the issue of Seechewal was dragged in the House, he said. Rebutting Bajwa’s claim, the Speaker said as per the rule book, the resolution had to be brought 15 days in advance.

As the CLP leader stood to speak in the zero hour, AAP MLA Inderjeet Kaur said Bajwa had no right to come to the House after he disgraced a Padma Shri awardee and environmentalist. She added that Bajwa must apologise or he should be expelled from the house.

Joining the issue, ministers Harjot Bains and Aman Arora said Bajwa had no right to belittle the environmentalist who, while following Guru Nanak's philosophy, had cleaned 160 km Kali Bein. Both the leaders said the MP's contributions had figured at national and international level and former President APJ Abdul Kalam had admired Seechewal’s model.

Countering Bajwa on the resolution sought by him on Shaheed-e-Azam, Arora said the CLP was raising an issue that had already been raised several times in the past.