Punjab Cong legislators mock Assembly again

MLAs want suspensions revoked, protest at Vidhan Sabha

 Punjab Congress MLAs on Friday held a mock Assembly within the premises of the Vidhan Sabha to protest against the non-revocation of suspension of nine party MLAs.

The decision to hold the mock Assembly was taken during a Congress Legislature Party meeting after the party had walked out of the state Assembly in protest against the non-revocation of suspension of nine legislators.

The mock Assembly saw several Congress MLAs chastising the SAD-BJP MLAs on various issues. They also passed resolutions to revoke suspension of nine Congress MLAs and breach of privilege motion against CLP leader Sunil Jakhar.

The nine MLAs were suspended by Punjab assembly Speaker on Friday for the rest of budget session for unparliamentary behaviour.

Former Punjab chief minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal also attended the mock Assembly.

At the outset, the Speaker of mock Assembly Congress MLA Jagmohan Singh Kang said, “We (Congress MLAs) were forced to hold mock session as the SAD-BJP was not allowing us to raise issues in the Vidhan Sabha. Congress MLAs never indulged in violence. We made every effort to run the House peacefully.”

The mock session, which went on for over half-an-hour, had all the ingredients like point of order, question answers, bringing resolutions, as witnessed normally in Vidhan Sabha.
Congress MLA Raja Amarinder Singh Warring took potshot at SAD-BJP government, saying the state government wanted to suppress their voice and not allowing to raise genuine issues in the Assembly.

Congress MLA Charanjit Singh demanded an FIR against those watch and ward staff which raided the office of CLP on March 13.

“The state government has no moral right to be in the saddle when it considered the police victim Tarn Taran girl as a security threat,” he said.

Earlier in the Assembly during Zero Hour, deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal said the state government never ordered a “raid” on the office of Congress Legislature Party, which led to the ruckus by the Congress MLAs.

“They (watch and ward staff) are on deputation and under direct control of Speaker. Punjab Police officials cannot enter on their own,” he said.

No apology

The leader of opposition, however, did not give any apology or regret in the House although chief minister Parkash Singh Badal wanted the Congress MLAs to apologise to the House for staging the walkout.

“We want the Congress MLAs to apologise for their behavior in the House and in the Assembly complex. In case they apologise, we have no objection to the suspension of the nine Congress MLAs being revoked,” said Badal.