Amarinder lambasts Akalis

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh today slammed Shiormani Akali Dal leaders Parkash Singh Badal and Sukhbir Badal for allegedly making derogatory remarks against the Speaker and issuing open threat to him.
He accused the Badals of using "unparliamentary" language and showing behaviour against the Speaker.
The chief minister also said that Congress would not allow any attempts by the opposition party to demolish the democratic foundations of the House and constitutional systems to be destroyed in such a manner.
Punjab Congress today also issued a whip, asking all its MLAs to remain present tomorrow in case voting is required to pass any important legislation.

"As a constitutional authority mandated with the task of maintaining order in the House, the Speaker was required to ensure that there is no obstruction or disturbance and he was merely fulfilling his duty by preventing the Assembly precincts to be reduced to a battleground by the uncouth legislators of the opposition parties," the Chief Minister said in a statement.
The Congress will neither allow the high office of the Speaker to be "maligned" nor would it permit the Akalis or the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to prevent the government from implementing its public welfare agenda, on which the opposition seems to be "bent on impeding", Singh said, adding that they were not allowing the House to function unless the Speaker is removed from his post.

"If (Parkash Singh) Badal thinks he can hold the government to ransom with his cheap threats, he is totally mistaken," the CM said, adding that he would not be cowed down by such threats.

He ridiculed the former chief minister for shedding "crocodile tears" at the hospital and indulging in "histrionics" in a clear bid to garner public sympathy and hog the media limelight.
"Badal had not found the time to go to the House, where his presence just might have helped rein in the 'goondaism' of his party legislators, but wasted no time to rush for a photo opportunity at the hospital, without even bothering to ascertain how seriously the AAP MLAs had actually been injured, if at all," said the Chief Minister.

Singh also lashed out at Sukhbir for resorting to "cheap and unconstitutional" language while referring to the Speaker, saying this was reflective of the total disrespect the Akalis have always had for constitutional positions.
He also castigated the Akalis for trying to communalise the situation which they had triggered with their own irresponsible and undemocratic acts.