Punjab Assembly Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal today admitted a no-confidence motion against the ruling SAD-BJP combine in the state, moved by opposition Congress, even as the House saw acrimonious scenes after a breach of privilege motion against Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal was rejected by him.
After the Question Hour on the second day of the Monsoon Session, Leader of Opposition and Congress MLA Charanjit Singh Channi moved the no-confidence motion against the Punjab government.
It was moved on various grounds, including "failure of the state government in protecting the interests of the state on the SYL canal issue, deteriorating law and order situation, emergence of mafia groups, rampant corruption, deteriorating fiscal position of the state, failure in apprehending the culprits behind the Bargari sacrilege case".
The Speaker admitted the motion under Rule 58 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Punjab Assembly and told the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader that he would allot time for the same.
The motion was supported by Independent MLA brothers Simarjit Singh Bains and Balwinder Singh Bains.
Later, former chief minister and senior Congress leader Rajinder Kaur Bhattal raised an objection to distribution of cheques to the tune of Rs 16 crore by the wife of state Finance Minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa, despite Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal's assurance that except MLAs and ministers, no one else could distribute cheques.
"It is a violation of constitutional provisions," Bhattal claimed and sought a reply from the Treasury benches claiming that she had proof of distribution of cheques in her Assembly constituency.
However, the Speaker said he could not force the Treasury benches to reply on the same.
At this, opposition members stood up and vociferously demanded an answer from the Treasury benches.
Bhattal said this could also be described as a "breach of privilege" as the Leader of the House had given an assurance to the members in this regard.
Then, Congress MLA Rana Gurmeet Singh Sodhi sought passage of a resolution for setting up of statues of martyrs like Bhagat Singh, Udham Singh in the Assembly complex to apprise the youth of the history of the country's freedom struggle.
At this, the chief minister hit out at the previous Congress government in the state for "not even thinking of setting up memorials for martyrs and war heroes".
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Badal informed the House that the state government was setting up the Jang-e-Azaadi memorial, at a cost of Rs 300 crore, at Kartarpur and a war memorial at Amritsar.
He also took a jibe at Congress on the issue of memorials which was objected to by the MLAs of the party.
"Hun mirchan lagdiyan ne (now you do not like to face the truth)," he said.
A heated exchange ensued between the Treasury benches, led by Bikram Singh Majithia, and opposition members, including Kuljit Nagra and Sukhjinder Randhawa.
Badal again lashed out at the opposition members, accusing them of creating obstructions in the proceedings of the House.
"This is the last session (before the 2017 Punjab Assembly polls) and we should not have bitter memories. Instead, we should have sweet memories," the chief minister said.
He informed the House that approval has been given for setting up of a memorial in the memory of martyr Udham Singh at an over-five-acre land at Sunam.
Former leader of opposition and Congress MLA Sunil Jakhar then urged the Speaker to accept the breach of privilege motion against Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal for his "failure to honour the promise of providing water supply, sewerage facilities and other basic amenities".
However, the Speaker disallowed the motion which led to chaotic scenes with the opposition members rushing to the well of the House and raising slogans against the state government.
When his pleas to the opposition members to let the proceedings continue fell on deaf ears, the Speaker adjourned the House.
Later, talking to reporters at the press gallery, Jakhar accused Sukhbir of "lying" on the issue of providing water supply and sewerage facilities to the towns of Punjab.
He said the deputy chief minister had claimed in the Assembly in March that in the next 2-3 months, sewerage facilities and water supply would be provided to 100 towns.
He had made a similar statement in 2014, Jakhar said, accusing the SAD regime of "befooling the people".
The state government, through advertisements in June, had claimed to have spent Rs 35,263 crore under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) scheme, he said.
But, it was allocated about Rs 143 crore by the Centre before the advertisements were released, he claimed.
"The government has to be held responsible for its lies," the Congress leader said.
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Meanwhile, a heated exchange took place between Punjab Revenue Minister Bikram Singh Majithia and Leader of Opposition Charanjit Singh Channi on a question over the post of Lambardar.
During the Question Hour, Channi asked the minister whether the government was contemplating over the issue of making the post of Lambardar hereditary, along with fixing the minimum and maximum age for the same.
Majithia said because of a legal problem, it could not be done as the Punjab and Haryana High Court had passed an order in this regard in 2000.
At this, Channi asked the minister to bring a bill on the issue while questioning the intent of the ruling SAD-BJP government in the state regarding the same.
It led to a heated exchange between Majithia and the opposition members.
The minister then asked the opposition members that if they were so concerned, why did they not do it during the Congress rule in the state during 2002-2007.
