SAD-BJP, AAP MPs abstain from meeting convened by Punjab govt

Legislators representing the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and BJP today abstained from a meeting convened by the Punjab government to apprise them about state-related issues that can be taken up in the upcoming winter session of parliament.
Punjab's Parliamentary Affairs Minister Brahm Mohindra chaired the meeting which was attended by four MPs from the state, including AAP's suspended parliamentarian Dharamvira Gandhi and state Congress chief and Gurdaspur MP Sunil Jakhar.
"The meeting was convened to apprise MPs from Punjab about the burning issues of the state that can be raised in the upcoming parliament session," Mohindra said after the meeting.

He said officers from 26 different departments of the state government too attended the meeting.
On non-participation of SAD-BJP and AAP MPs, the minister said they were "doing politics" at the cost of issues concerning the state.
"Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh took a call to convene a meeting of MPs from the state so that they could jointly take up burning issues concerning Punjab in the parliament," he said, adding similar meetings will be convened in the future.

However, BJP MP and Union minister Vijay Sampla termed the meeting a "mockery" and said Mohindra had no authority to chair such a meeting.

SAD MP Prem Singh Chandumajra said it was against the stature and dignity of parliamentarians as the chief minister ignored the protocol by not attending the meeting.
Reacting over the absence of AAP and SAD-BJP MPs in the meeting, the chief minister said it was their prerogative to attend or not attend the meeting.
"The minister (Mohinder) had taken a major initiative by convening such a meeting to take the views of all MPs before finalising the state's agenda for the parliament session and any MP who decided to boycott the same had done it at the cost of the welfare of Punjab and its people," he argued.