Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
Chandigarh, October 21
The historic unity seen in the Vidhan Sabha yesterday while passing the three farm Bills did not last long as the Opposition came prepared to target the government over many issues on the last day of the special Assembly session.
7 Bills cleared
Punjab Bhondedar, Butemar, Dohlidar, Insar, Miami, Mukkararidar, Mundhimar, Panahi, Qadeem, Saunjidar or Taraddadkar (Vesting of Proprietary Rights) Bill; Punjab Vigilance Commission Bill; Registration (Punjab Amendment) Bill; Punjab Tissue Culture Based Seed Potato Bill; Punjab Land Revenue (Amendment) Bill; Punjab (Welfare and Settlement of Landless, Marginal and Small Occupant Farmers) Allotment of State Government Land Bill; and Factories (Punjab Amendment) Bill
Even as the Post-Matric SC Scholarship scam dominated the House proceedings today, the government managed to get seven important Bills passed amid walkouts by both Opposition parties — the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
The mood for the session was set before its started as SAD and Lok Insaaf Party legislators held separate protests against the government over the scholarship scam. Inside the House, after the first Bill on vesting of proprietary rights was tabled and came up for discussion, Minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot got up to thank the Chief Minister. He was interrupted by Akali MLA Pawan Kumar Tinu. As the slanging match between Akali MLAs and the Congress MLAs turned ugly, the former stormed in the well of the House to protest. Later, they staged a walkout.
Dharamsot was also targeted by AAP. However, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh said the inquiry conducted by an officers committee had found nothing against the minister.
Later, as the Punjab Vigilance Commission Bill came up for discussion, AAP MLA Aman Arora got up to speak. He wanted that his suggestions on amending the Bill should be included, which was not allowed by the Speaker.
This led to acrimonious scenes in the House as Leader of Opposition Harpal Cheema intervened and demanded that leader of Opposition and a representative of Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court be included in the Commission. On being disallowed to speak, he accused the Speaker Rana KP Singh of favouring the treasury benches and muzzling the voice of Opposition. This led to many Congress MLAs storming the well of the House and demanding his apology. Irate, AAP MLAs walked out of the House after raising slogans against the government.
When the Punjab (Welfare and Settlement of Landless, Marginal and Small Occupant Farmers) Allotment of State Government Land Bill was tabled, Akali MLA NK Sharma and rebel AAP MLA Sukhpal Khaira accused two ministers and some MLAs of illegally occupying land by arm twisting land laws.
Cotton growers ignored: AAP MLA
Bathinda Rural MLA Rupinder Kaur Ruby on Wednesday said the Bills only talked about wheat and paddy and ignored 21 other crops. “Cotton belt farmers have been completely ignored in the Bills,” the MLA said, adding she raised the issue of non-expeditious procurement by the CCI in Bathinda.
SAD legislators slam lunch invite
As the ruling Congress government invited all legislators for lunch, SAD MLAs boycotted it, saying there was nothing to celebrate. The AAP MLAs could not attend the lunch as they had staged a walk-out during the session when the Speaker made an announcement regarding lunch.
Cong plans ‘Thank you Captain’ drive
With focus on Captain Amarinder Singh’s intent and ability to take pro-farmer decisions, the party is launching an awareness campaign at the village-level “Thank you Captain” . It will make people aware of relevance of the farm Bills passed by the Assembly.
