Ruckus mars Punjab Governor’s Address

Chandigarh, March 1

The first day of the Punjab Assembly’s Budget session saw political drama unfolding outside and inside the House during the Governor’s Address. While the ruling Congress protested against the Modi-led BJP government over the rising fuel and LPG prices, the opposition parties targeted the state over its “unfulfilled” poll promises and the Centre for not repealing the farm laws.

Kishor is Principal Adviser to Captain

Chandigarh: Punjab CM Capt Amarinder Singh on Monday said poll strategist Prashant Kishor had joined him as his principal adviser. Kishor had handled the Congress poll campaign in 2017 when the party bagged 77 of the 117 seats in the Assembly.

Chaos prevailed as SAD MLAs led by Bikram Majithia stormed into the Well of the House and raised slogans against Governor VP Singh Badnore for not forwarding to the President amendments passed by the House to counter the farm laws. AAP MLAs led by Harpal Cheema joined the Akalis. Lok Insaaf Party MLAs Simarjit Bains and Balwinder Bains too protested against the Governor.

Amid sloganeering, Badnore read only a few pages of his 48-page speech and stopped abruptly, stating it be treated as read. The Assembly paid tributes to the farmers who died during the stir and also remembered former ministers Buta Singh, MS Gill, Major Singh Uboke, Bal Mukund Sharma and Satpal Gosain. Tributes were also paid tributes to singers Sardool Sikander and Narendra Chanchal and freedom fighters Ajit Singh, Gohal Tur and Balwant Singh. — TNS

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