Sidhu, Majithia engage in verbal spat in Punjab House

Punjab cabinet minister Navjot Singh Sidhu, and Akali leader and former minister Bikram Singh Majithia today engaged in a spat over the issue of GST on 'langar' in the Punjab Assembly, forcing the Speaker to adjourn the House.

A day after Punjab government decided to waive its share in GST imposed on the purchases made for 'langar' (community kitchen) at the Golden Temple, the opposition SAD informed the House that Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had assured the Akalis to forego the Centre's share in the Goods and Services Tax on items used for 'langar'.

After the Question Hour on the third day of the ongoing budget session, former finance minister and Akali leader Parminder Singh Dhindsa said SAD chief Sukhbir Badal, Akali MP Prem Singh Chandumajra who met finance minister Arun Jaitley yesterday were assured that the Centre was also ready to waive its share of GST if the Punjab government had agreed to do so.

"The state government yesterday waived its share in GST which was appreciated. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley assured SAD chief Sukhbir Badal and Prem Singh Chandumajra that the Centre is also ready to forego its share in GST if the state government has agreed to waive its share," claimed Dhindsa.

This statement attracted strong reaction from the treasury benches led by cabinet minister Navjot Singh Sidhu who asked the Akalis what they had been doing for the past six months.

"If they were given the assurance then why they were sleeping for the last six months? The credit only goes to CM Amarinder Singh for waiving the state's share in GST," said Sidhu.

The finance minister speaking on this matter, said that he would welcome the Centre's assurance to the Akalis of waiving its share in GST on items used in making Langar.

However, he said the Centre had earlier rejected the demand of the Punjab government of exempting GST on Langar.

Sidhu then passed some remark against Majithia for not letting him speak, leading to a ruckus in the House.

Both Sidhu and Majithia got involved in ugly verbal spat even as the Speaker tried to calm them down.

Members of the treasury benches and the Akalis then got involved in heated exchanges forcing the Speaker to adjourn the House for 30 minutes.

Later, the House unanimously passed a resolution thanking Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh for waiving the state's share of GST on Langar at the Golden Temple.

The resolution was moved by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Brahm Mohindra after MLA Dera Baba Nanak Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa suggested the same.