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Journalism of Courage
CHANDIGARH, MARCH 18: For the first time seven members of the Punjab Assembly, owing allegiance to the former Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president G.S. Tohra, today staged a walkout during the zero hour to protest the manner in which Speaker C.S. Atwal was conducting the proceedings of the House.
Those who walked out were, former ministers Harmail Singh Tohra, Manjit Singh Calcutta, Inderjit Singh Zira and members Bikramjit Singh Khalsa, J.S. Rajla, Hira Singh Ghabrian and Prem Singh Lalpura. Another Tohra supporter Maheshinder Singh Grewal, arrived late in the assembly.
The trouble began when the leader of the opposition Chaudhary Jagjit Singh raised the issue of bungling in octroi auction in Bathinda, which had lead to a lathicharge on the agitators. Hardev Arshi of the CPI supported the charge of the Congress, which invited a sharp reaction from Minister of State Chiranji Lal Garg. The Congress trooped out of the house.
As they were walking out, Local Government Minister Balramji Das Tandon informed the House that auction of octroi in Bathinda had recorded 33 per cent increase last year and a 67 per cent increase this year. He denied police lathicharge on the agitators. Arshi, who had raised the question expressed dissatisfaction at the reply leading to a walkout.
Close on the heels of walkout by the Congress, the SAD (Amritsar) MLA Ajit Inder Singh Mofar raised the issues of beating up of three Dalit families by the gunmen of an Akali MLA in Bathinda, demoralisation in police as indicated by the suicide of an ASI in Mansa and the killing of two alleged poppy husk smugglers in Shahkot of Jalandhar district by the police yesterday. In view of the alleged “stonewalling” of the debate, the two member CPI group and the lone SAD(Amritsar) member staged a walkout. Luxmi Kanta Chawla too staged a walkout aggrieved by the alleged blocking of debate on various issues by the Speaker.
Returning to the House, leader of the opposition demanded an inquiry into the bungling and punishment for the guilty officers.
After the zero hour, during the discussion on resolution moved by Dr Harbans Lal (Cong), seeking a review of schemes for the Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes, the House witnessed some sharp exchanges.
Ajaib Singh Raunta alleged that the Dalits were being ignored by the “feudal dominated SAD and trader sympathetic BJP” coalition. He referred to stripping of a Dalit women in Ferozepur district. Jagdish Sahani (BJP) rebutted the CPI allegation.
Aajit Inder Singh Mofar SAD (A) criticised the government for irregularities and favouritism in distribution of Shagun Scheme and called the old age pension as bogus citing example of Jhaneer village, in Mansa district. The BJP MLAs Luxmi Kanta Chawla, Mohinder Kaur, Raj Rani and the SAD member Gurdip Singh also spoke on the resolution. The Congress benches demanded voting on the resolution but the Speaker instead allowed continuation of the debate. The Congress staged a walkout for the second time.
Expenditure cuts await approval Punjab Finance Minister Kanwaljit Singh today said special steps, taken to check unnecessary expenditure awaited cabinet approval.
The House passed supplementary grants totalling about 3,396 crore by a voice vote. The major allocation, Rs. 2,161 crore, was under ways and means head for repayment to the Reserve Bank of India, Rs. 604 crore for payment of salaries and pensions after the pay revision and Rs. 192 crore for the Ranjit Sagar project.
Minister grilled on DAP shortage In the Assembly today, Baldev Singh Khaila (SAD) questioned the agriculture minister on the shortage of DAP during the Rabi season and at the time of sowing of wheat in 1997 and 1998 and if action was taken on complaints on shortages. Agriculture minister G. S. Badal admitted the supplies were low, but asserted that no formal complaint was received from any body.
