Bill on office of profit passed in Pb Assembly amid Oppn protest

A Bill, which would pave the way for the enactment of the law to enable legislators to hold several new categories of "Office of Profit" without being disqualified, was passed in the Punjab Assembly amid a vociferous protest from the Opposition parties.

The SAD-BJP and the AAP termed The Punjab State Legislature (Prevention of Disqualification) Amendment Bill as "unconstitutional and illegal", saying that the ruling party brought the Bill to "adjust" its MLAs at the post of chairpersons of boards or corporations.

"This Bill is a backdoor entry to adjust Congress legislators. It is completely unconstitutional and illegal and it will definitely be challenged in the High Court," AAP MLA Sukhpal Khaira said when the Bill was tabled in the House.

Another AAP MLA Aman Arora pointed out "poor" condition of state finances, saying the government has not been able to pay salaries of employees.

"The debt of the state has touched the mark of Rs 2.50 lakh crore and here we are burdening the state with this new Bill," said Arora.

Akali MLA Harinder Pal Singh Chandumajra also objected to the Bill in the House, saying it was not justified to give positions to some MLAs to "please" them, given the condition of the state finances.

However, the Bill was later passed.

Four other Bills -- The Punjab Scheduled Castes and Backward Class (Reservation in Services) Amendment Bill, 2018, Punjab Municipal Infrastructure Development Fund (Amendment) Bill, 2018, Punjab Agricultural Produce Markets (Amendment) Bill, 2018 and Punjab Settlement of Agricultural Indebtedness (Amedment) Bill, 2018 were passed.

Earlier, a verbal duel took place between cabinet minister Navjot Singh Sidhu and Akali leader Bikram Singh Majithia after SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal was accusing the state government of conspiring with radical elements to defame Akali Dal.

Then the Speaker adjourned the House for half an hour.

When the House resumed, the Speaker urged the members to maintain decorum and refrain from using "unparliamentary" language.