Punjab Assembly stalled by Congress

Shouting anti-government slogans, opposition members entered the well of the house and tore papers.

As the Question Hour ended and Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal called upon the Chief Minister to make his statement, the leader of opposition Sunil Jakhar and other Congress members stood up demanding a discussion on the law and order situation in the state before the other items.

The opposition continued with their ruckus and came to the well of the house raising slogans.

A member also rose on the chair and started speaking while some others tore some papers paying no heed to the Speaker for restoration of order so that the listed business could be taken up.

As per the listed business, Badal was to make his statement which was to be followed by passing of the first report of the Business Advisory Committee, a Calling Attention Notice of Congress member Ashwani Sekhri, laying and relaying of papers, passage of five legislative bills and discussion of "law and order situation", which was to be initiated by Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, who is also the Home Minister.

Atwals' assertions that the Leader of the House (Chief Minister) could intervene or speak at any time on any issue failed to convince the opposition Congress members, most of whom remained in the well of the house.

With the opposition not allowing the Chief Minister to give his "explanation" to the allegations levelled by Jakhar against Badal on misuse of Rs 40 crore during the distribution in Lambi assembly constituency, the Speaker took up the next item listed on the agenda - adoption of the report of the first meeting of the Business Advisory Committee.

The report was passed by the house by voice vote even as the Congress pandemonium continued.

The Chair repeatedly called upon Congress member Sekhri to read his Calling Attention Notice ("towards mixing of sewerage water with the portable water in Gandhi area of Batala City"), the opposition members did not pay any heed to the Speaker.

Thereafter, Atwal called for laying or relaying of various papers on the table of the house. (MORE)