Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
* SAD mlas led by Bikram Majithia ask Speaker to mete out exemplary punishment to two Congress mlas who abused and insulted Sekhri in the assembly precincts
Chandigarh, September 24 – Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) legislators from the Majha region today categorically said the abuse and insult met out to Batala Congress legislator Ashwani Sekhri at the hands of his own party men was not an internal matter of the Congress but a question of the very dignity of the house.
The legislators, led by Revenue minister Bikram Singh Majithia, who had raised this sensitive issue during zero hour yesterday which led to the sensational implication of two Congress mlas by Mr Ashwani Sekhri, said they would take the matter to its logical conclusion to ensure such an incident was never repeated again.
The MLAs, including Virsa Singh Valtoha, Harmeet Singh, Manjit Singh Manna and Amarpal Singh Bony Ajanala, urged Vidhan Sabha Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal to mete out exemplary punishment to both Congress mlas who had abused and insulted Sekhri. “Everyone witnessed yesterday how Sekhri, who feared for his physical safety at the hands of his own colleagues, was first even afraid to disclose the names of the perpetrators of this ghastly act”, they added.
The MLAs said had one of them – Bikram Majithia – not brought the matter to the attention of the house it could have led to an alarming situation and even resulted in a physical attack on Mr Sekhri as was being feared by the Congress legislator. They said the two Congress mlas – Sangat Singh Gilzian and Ramanjeet Singh Sikki, who had made Sekhri fear for his life, had acted like goons. They should be proceeded against immediately to restore the lost dignity of Mr Sekhri”, they said.
Meanwhile the legislators made it clear that they had risen to defend Sekhri and demand action against the two MLAs who had threatened and misbehaved with him only to show common cause with their Majha brethren. “We were ashamed to see a faction of Congress MLAs laughing and taunting Sekhri when the latter was telling his harrowing tale of physical intimidation to the house. We cannot see our fellow MLA being ridiculed in such a manner. We are ready to give evidence of the entire sequence of events before a privilege committee so that strict action can be taken against the two MLAs who not only insulted their own colleague but also insulted the august Vidhan Sabha”, they added.
