Session extended by 5 days, Budget now on February 28

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 20

The ongoing Assembly session has been extended by five days and will now end on March 4. The Budget proposals for 2020-21 will be presented by Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal on February 28, instead of the earlier announced date of February 25.

A decision to this effect was taken in the meeting of Business Advisory Council, held under the chairmanship of Speaker Rana KP Singh. The meeting was attended among others by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Brahm Mohindra, Sports Minister Rana Gurmit Sodhi, Leader of Opposition Harpal Singh Cheema, Congress MLA Kushaldeep Singh Dhillon and Akali MLA Sharanjit Singh Dhillon.

The Opposition party MLAs had demanded an extension of the session as several important issues had to be discussed in the House. Cheema had also demanded that the discussion on the Budget be held on two days, instead of one. It was thus decided to extend the session till March 4, with discussion on the Budget now being scheduled on March 2-3.

TWO Resolutions passed

• The first pertained to the preparation of a master plan to build sufficient and safe buildings for govt primary and elementary schools and roping in NRIs for the project
• It was supported by MLAs, including Hardyal Singh Kamboj, Surjit Singh Dhiman, Pawan Kumar Adia, Madan Lal Jalalpur, Kuljit Nagra and Santokh Singh Bhalaipur
• The second resolution was regarding finding a prompt solution to acute scarcity of water in the state
• It was moved and supported by Gurpratap S Wadala, Pawan Kumar Tinu, Arun Narang and Harinderpal S Chandumajra

Committee extends deadlines

• The Special Privileges Committee extended the deadline to submit reports in cases of breach of privilege of the House
• The panel chaired by Kushaldeep Singh Kikki Dhillon extended time to submit report on breach of privilege against Akali MLA Pawan Kumar Tinu till March 20, against SGPC chief April 3 and against MLA Simranjit Bains March 28

Join Whatsapp Channel of The Tribune for latest updates.