Series of walkouts, adjournments mar Day 2

Ruchika M Khanna

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 11

The last day of the present Punjab Vidhan Sabha saw acrimonious scenes with five walkouts by Opposition parties, exchange of barbs and MLAs nearly coming to blows resulting in four House adjournments to ensure things didn’t stoop to abysmally low levels.

On the day rules for anti-defection were tabled in the special session, in a scripted manner, another MLA from Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) switched sides and crossed the floor towards the Treasury benches. Raikot MLA Jagtar Singh Jagga Hissowal, who had returned to the party fold after rebelling in 2018, proclaimed in the House he was happy to see a common man rising to be the Chief Minister (referring to Channi) and accepted him “as his CM”, leaving the AAP MLAs stunned.

Two Bills on farm laws approved

• Two Bills were brought by Agriculture Minister Randeep Singh Nabha, repealing The Punjab Contract Farming Act and making amendments to The Punjab Agricultural Produce Markets Act. The debate lasted over four hours
• A resolution was also passed rejecting the three farm laws enacted by the Centre last year. The Vidhan Sabha demanded enactment of special legislation in Parliament to safeguard the interests of small and marginal farmers

Civil war may happen

This is a serious issue. If this fiscal condition is not reversed, the state can plunge into civil war. —Navjot Sidhu, PCC chief

As CM Charanjit Singh Channi asked the House if they realised how a common man had risen from the ranks to be the CM, Jagga switched sides. This drew a sharp reaction from AAP MLA Aman Arora, who demanded to know how the Congress and Speaker could allow such blatant defection. With this, the strength of AAP MLAs in the House gone down to 11, besides Kanwar Sandhu, who continues to be a rebel and four others who have joined the Congress. Rupinder Kaur Ruby had joined the Congress yesterday. Interestingly, the SAD MLAs were also named by Speaker Rana KP Singh after their heated exchanges with CM Channi. During the discussion on the two Bills related to farm laws, the CM pointing towards Majithia accused him of being involved with “bad elements”. To this, Akali MLAs rose and rushed towards the CM’s seat, speaking about his previous scandal. The Congress MLAs, too, rushed to Channi’s rescue. As heated exchanges continued between the two sides, the Speaker adjourned the House. With things continuing to worsen, and senior minister Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa and Akali MLA Gurpartap Singh Wadala unsuccessfully trying to restore peace, the House was adjourned twice more. The Speaker then summoned the Akali MLAs to his chamber and tried to broker peace. But as soon as the proceedings resumed, the Akalis demanded an apology. The Speaker said the objectionable contents of the CM’s speech had been expunged, but the Akali MLAs refused to relent. They were then named by the Speaker, and could not attend the subsequent proceedings.

The session began with an official resolution being brought in by the Deputy CM to extend the area under BSF control. Since the Parliamentary Affairs Minister said all other rules of the House with regards to holding a zero and question hours could be set aside, both AAP and Akali MLAs protested and staged a walkout.

15 Bills passed

• The Punjab Contract Farming (Repeal) Bill, 2021
• The Plaksha University, Punjab Bill, 2021 (replacing ordinance)
• The Lamrin Tech Skills University, Punjab Bill, 2021 (replacing ordinance)
• The Punjab Right to Business (Amendment) Bill, 2021
• The Punjab Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2021
• The Punjab Official Language (Amendment) Bill, 2021
• The Punjab Learning of Punjabi and Other Language (Amendment) Bill, 2021
• The Punjab Affiliated Colleges (Security of Service) Amendment Bill, 2021
• The Punjab One-Time Voluntary Disclosure and Settlement of Building Constructed in Violations of the Buildings Bylaws Bill, 2021
• The Punjab Renewable Energy Security, Reform, Termination and Re-Determination of Power Tariff Bill, 2021 | The Punjab Energy Security, Reform, Termination and Re-Determination of Power Tariff Bill, 2021
• The Punjab Agricultural Produce Markets (Amendment) Bill, 2021
• The Punjab (Institutions and other Buildings) Tax (Repeal) Bill, 2021
• The Punjab Protection and Regularisation of Contractual Employees Bill, 2021
• The Punjab Fruit Nurseries (Amendment) Bill, 2021
• The Punjab Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (Second Amendment) Bill, 2021

On the sidelines

• Praising Transport Minister Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, Navjot Sidhu said his tirade against transport mafia had left Sukhbir Badal sleepless. “Now, Harsimrat must be telling Sukhbir to sleep otherwise Warring will come,” he said
• Ex-minister Gurpreet Kangar termed CM Channi as the new engine of the party that was giving more average compared to the old engine of Capt Amarinder Singh
• For a change, Sidhu praised Capt Amarinder for showing the political will to table the Water Termination Bill during his term as Chief Minister from 2002 to 2007
• LoP Harpal Cheema poked fun at Sidhu, saying due to his aggressive stance, he had been regaled to the back benches

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