Stop SAD leaders from making pro-terror remarks: BJP to Badal : The Tribune India

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Stop SAD leaders from making pro-terror remarks: BJP to Badal

CHANDIGARH: On the last day of the Winter Session today, senior BJP minister Anil Joshi asked Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to control his party’s leaders from making statements that eulogise terrorism.



Ruchika M Khanna

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 24

On the last day of the winter session today, senior BJP minister Anil Joshi asked Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to restrain his party leaders from “eulogising” terrorism.
The Congress was relentless in its attack on the Akali-BJP government over  the summoning of senior Akali minister Bikram Singh Majithia by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the synthetic drug case. The Congress sharpened its attack after  Akali MLA Virsa Singh Valtoha boasted of his past terror links.
The Opposition party today staged a walk-out after the breach of privilege motion moved by it against Valtoha was rejected. But the real embarrassment for the Akali Dal came today when its alliance partner took on the Akali leadership for allowing its MLA to get away with such remarks.
“We are part of the government and have supported you. We can’t accept a situation when a  member of the House boasts of his being a terrorist. My father was a victim of terrorist activities in Punjab.
"While some leaders display their past associations, ask me how painful it is to remember those days of terrorism.  Badal sahib, 'ihna leaderan nu control karo ji' (please restrain these leaders). Our members should not speak like this,” Joshi said. Valtoha had yesterday flaunted his past terror links that led to the Congress demanding his suspension from the House.  
Joshi also said that while Valtoha claimed that he was referred to as a terrorist as he was fighting for the “rights of Punjab”, the Chief Minister himself had been fighting for Punjab’s rights, but he was not referred to as a terrorist.
Joshi also said that the BJP had fought terrorism in Punjab tooth and nail and was also opposed to the drug menace in the state.
“Till the time it is proven that a person is involved, we are with the government. It is the decision of the Chief Minister (regarding not seeking the resignation of Revenue Minister Bikram Majithia) and we abide by it. But we strongly oppose terrorism,  flaunting of one’s terror links and drugs,” he said.
Another BJP minister Madan Mohan Mittal
tried to soften the blow by taking the discussion on another course. He
exhorted the Speaker, Charanjit Singh Atwal, to ensure that discipline was maintained in the House and members followed the laid rules and procedures.
He told the Speaker that they were in the House to not just listen to the Leader of Opposition, but also to the Leader of the House.  Exhorting the Speaker, he said that the Opposition was getting too much time to speak in the House.
The Speaker tried to explain his position, saying that he was giving equal time to both sides. Akali MLA Pawan Teenu too joined forces with Mittal on the issue, but he was reprimanded by the Speaker.   
Joshi launched his tirade against Valtoha, after the latter got up and chose to explain his position on the remarks he made yesterday. Valtoha said that earlier in the day, the Opposition Congress, which had disrupted the House proceedings throughout yesterday, had moved a breach of privilege motion against Valtoha today, for flaunting his terror links.
The motion was moved by the Leader of Opposition, Sunil Jakhar, who said that Valtoha had raised the issue of his past life in order to deflect the attention from Bikram Majithia, as the Opposition was gunning for him.
But this motion was rejected by the Speaker on the grounds that it had been moved 30 minutes after the session had commenced, and the motion could be admitted only if it was moved before the session commences. At this moment, the CM addressed the House, saying that it was unfair of the Opposition to hold the proceedings of the House, especially as Valtoha had withdrawn his statement and he (Badal) had regretted that such statements were made in the House.

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