Privilege motion demanded against absentee Cong MLAs

Accusing Opposition Congress MLAs of availing allowances inspite of not attending the ongoing Punjab Assembly session, the Treasury Bench today sought privilege motion against them.
The Opposition Congress continued to boycott Assembly proceedings for the eighth consecutive day today, protesting against the suspension of its nine MLAs from the House last week.
After completion of Question Hour, Punjab Revenue and Rehabilitation Minister Bikram Singh Majithia, supported by other ruling party members, demanded that a privilege motion be brought against "absent" Congress MLAs from the budget session.
"Claiming allowances by Congress MLAs despite not attending the ongoing session is a loot of the state exchequer, which is a condemnable act," he said adding that the exchequer is bearing a burden of Rs 4 lakh per day on account of allowances claimed by absent Opposition party members.

However, Punjab Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal said, "As per rules, if any member of the House marks attendance and whether that MLA attends the Assembly session or not, he or she can still claim due allowances. Therefore, there is no need of discussion on this issue."
Supporting Majithia, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Madan Mohan Mittal said, some decision needed to be taken with regard to the absentee MLAs.

When the Treasury Bench members pressing on the issue further, the Speaker said, "I have nothing with the motion. If you want to bring it, you can do so."
Meanwhile, Congress Legislature Party leader Sunil Jakhar said that a resolution in the "mock assembly" moved by MLA Lal Singh had been passed and allowances of Congress MLAs will be given to the Tarn Taran police action victim.

"We have decided that all Congress MLAs will give their allowances to the Tarn Taran woman, who was a victim of police brutality," Jakhar said.