Ruckus in Punjab Vidhan Sabha over grilling of Kartarpur devotees

Rajmeet Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 27

The Vidhan Sabha on Thursday witnessed ruckus on the reports of questioning of devotees returning through the Kartarpur corridor as the Opposition again gunned for the DGP over his purported remarks related to security concerns at the corridor. The concerns of minorities in the wake of riots in Delhi were also discussed on the floor of the House.

SAD MLAs led by Bikram Majithia stormed the well of the House, before staging a walkout. Linking the questioning of the devotees with the purported remarks of DGP Dinkar Gupta, the Akalis and AAP sought an explanation from ChieMinister Capt Amarinder Singh during the Zero Hour, who yesterday had assured the House that the government would not allow the corridor to be shut under any circumstance.

The emotive issue of the Kartarpur corridor flared up after SAD MLA Sharanjit Singh Dhillon flashed newspaper reports of devotees being questioned by the Punjab Police on returning though the corridor. Leader of the Opposition Harpal Cheema and AAP’s Kultar Singh Sandhwan said devotees were questioned only after remarks by the DGP. They sought removal of the DGP and the SSP, Gurdaspur.

As the Jails Minister stood up to clarify on the issue, asserting that only four devotees were questioned on the basis of a letter received from Additional Deputy Director, Intelligence Bureau (IB), a heated argument ensued between the minister and the Leader of the Opposition, who questioned his authority to speak on behalf of the Chief Minister. Sensing the political overtones, AAP MLA Sarvjit kaur Manuke suggested that the Akali and BJP ministers at the Centre should intervene into the issue as it involved the IB.

Jails Minister Sukhjinder Randhawa raised the issue of the recent violence in Delhi. He questioned the silence of the Akalis on the matter. The national capital was in a state of turmoil and the killing of humanity was a stigma on the democratic and secular fabric of the country, he said.

Pawan Tinu raises scholarship issue

SAD MLA Pawan Kumar Tinu targeted the Congress Government for not releasing the SC post-matric scholarship, resulting in colleges withholding roll numbers of students for the upcoming exams. He raised the issue of SC students sitting on a dharna in Jalandhar.

AAP: Probe purchase of weighing machines

Leader of the Opposition Harpal Cheema demanded a probe into the purchase of 27,314 weighing machines for anganwadi centres at a cost of Rs21.52 crore. The machines were available in the market for Rs10 crore, he said. The machines were to be used for weighing children enrolled with the centres.

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