Bhattal suspended from Assembly,let off within hours

After a long discussion and criticism of the report from Opposition MLAs,the Assembly,following the intervention of the Speaker,granted her pardon. Before the pardon,Local Government Minister Manoranjan Kalia urged the House to reduced Bhattal’s punishment for two days. Kalia said,“Bhattal has admitted her mistake before the committee. We should reduce the punishment to two days.”

While the Congress later lauded the Speaker for showing magnanimity,earlier,during the discussion,Congress MLA Jassi Khangura said,“The committee has singled out a woman member of the House. Its like a kangaroo court order. If Bhattal is guilty,then we all need to be suspended.”

Congress MLA Rana Kaypee said,“The report is unfair. SAD MLA Virsa Singh Valtoha was involved in the scuffle,and he’s a member of the committee which has recommended suspension. Valtoha is the witness in the case,the investogator,the judge and the accused. Its all unfair.” Sunil Jhakkar termed the decision “feudal and arbitrary”.