Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
Chandigarh, August 28
A total of 54 MLAs of the 117 were, including Kultar Singh Sandhwan and Baljinder Kaur, allowed or cleared to participate in the Punjab Vidhan session on Friday.
Aman Arora and Jai Singh Rori were also allowed to enter the Vidhan Sabha.
None of the Akali Dal MLA could be seen in the house.
The others, including Leader of Opposition Harpal Cheema and others including the ones wearing PPE kits, were not allowed entry.
AAP MLAs, who had come in contact with their colleague who later tested positive for COVID-19, were seen wear PPE kits to attend the Vidhan Sabha session on Friday.
A truncated, one-day session of the Punjab assembly began with obituary references to 23 departed souls, including Gurdas Singh Badal, father of Finance Minister Manpreet Badal, former Olympian Balbir Singh and soldiers martyred in defending the country’s borders.
Others who were paid the obituary references were Hazoori Ragi Nirmal Singh Khalsa and former minister Hari Singh Zira.
As the Punjab Vidhan Sabha session resumed, the Speaker read out the decision of the Business Advisory Committee stating that only important business would be conducted. The question hour, call attention notice and zero-hour stands cancelled.
After the Leader of Opposition Harpal Cheema was denied entry into the session, he said “jungle raj” prevailed in Punjab.
He has also accused Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh of creating an atmosphere of fear in the name of corona, rather than upgrading health infrastructure.
Cheema said: “Important issues concerning the state had to be discussed in the House. The high unemployment rate; the atrocities on the Dalits, the Hooch tragedy and political patronage to those responsible for the spurious liquor sale; and, now the post-matric scholarship scam. The government is running away from the debate by not allowing Opposition to participate in the session.”
AAP MLA Aman Arora objects to unnecessary harassment of the party MLAs in the name of extra COVID-related precautions.
As state Higher Education Minister Tript Bajwa presented the Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur State University of Law legislation on the floor of the House, AAP MLA Baljinder Kaur reminded the Congress government to take care of the existing institutions such as the Punjabi University while establishing new institutions.
She also drew the attention of the House towards the delay on the declaration of the results of students studying in open school by the Education Department.
Proceedings of the House
The House also passed the Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur State University of Law, the Punjab Bill 2020, and the Punjab Good Conduct Prisoners (temporary release) amendment bill
AAP MLA Baldev Singh raised the issue of Rs 55 crore SC post-matric scholarship scam, in which name of the Social Welfare Minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot has figured
LIP MLA Simarjit Bains flags the Rs 55 crore scam report in the House. He points out that Rs 248 crore was disbursed in violation of the FD guidelines. He said the money was reimbursed to the colleges in violation of the rules
AAP MLA Kultar Singh Sandhwan urges Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh to dismiss minister Dharamsot
Heated exchanges between Simarjit Bains and Dharamsot witnessed. Dharamsot says he is ready to face any enquiry
Punjab Vidhan Sabha passes the Punjab Clinical Establishments Bill
AAP MLA Aman Arora demands probe into the GST bill scam being probed by the state vigilance
Aman Arora raises the issue of illegal and liquor mafia in the state
AAP MLA Kultar Singh Sandhwan targets SAD stating they should ensure the clause of MSP would remain in new ordinances. Says Akalis were misguiding farmers
The AAP MLA also raised slogans in protest of not being heard.
All AAP MLAs later sat on a dharna outside the Vidhan Sabha.
