Winter session of Punjab Assembly concludes

BJP expresses 'disappointment' over not being allowed to speak in the House

The three-day winter session of the Punjab Assembly concluded on Wednesday.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), an ally of the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) government in the state, expressed "disappointment" over not being allowed to speak in the House and condemning objectionable remark by an Akali member of legislative Assembly (MLA).

The combative BJP requested the Speaker, Charanjit Singh Atwal, to follow "proper" procedure in the House to hold a good debate on any issue.

Objecting to the remark made by Akali MLA Virsa Singh Valtoha on the floor of the House on Tuesday, BJP MLA and Cabinet Minister Anil Joshi sought restraint on the use of objectionable language and also appealed the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to put "control" over it.

He said such statements affected the "image" of the state government.

Main Opposition Congress staged a walk out from the House, which concluded on the third day of its brief winter session, blaming the BJP for the defeat of no-confidence motion moved against state government on Tuesday.

After the Question Hour in the morning, the leader of Opposition in the Assembly, Sunil Jakhar, gave a notice of breach of privilege motion against Valtoha for "objectionable" comment.

"This is a grave breach of security of the House and its members and I request you (Speaker) to refer the matter to the Committee on Privilege for further action," said the notice.

However, Speaker rejected the notice of motion on the ground that it was not received within the stipulated time period.

"The notice for privilege motion against Virsa Singh Valtoha was received by my office at 10:30 am. Under rule 253 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Punjab Assembly, a member wishes to raise a question of privilege shall give notice in writing to Secretary before the commencement of the sitting on the day the question is proposed to be raised.

"I received notice at 10:30 am today and therefore, I reject it," the Speaker ruled.

Taking objection to the Valtoha's statement, the Congress created ruckus in the House and demanded his suspension from the House and entire debate on the motion could not take place.

Jakhar yesterday moved a no-confidence motion against the Punjab government against the background of the summons issued by Enforcement Directorate to Cabinet Minister Bikram Singh Majithia, in the drug smuggling racket.

However, the motion was defeated.