Highlights of the first day of Punjab Vidhan Sabha’s budget session
By Vijay Pal Brar
Chandigarh, June 14, 2017: Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh entered the House a few minutes before start of the session
He first went to Opposition benches and exchanged pleasantries with the Akali MLAs. Some of them also touched his feet as a mark of respect.
The CM also met the AAP MLAs.
Leader of Akali Legislature Party, Sukhbir Singh Badal also reciprocated the gesture and met the Congress MLAs as he entered the House.
The session began with Speaker KP Singh Rana reading out the obituary references.
As soon as he read out the name of the late DGP KPS Gill, the Akali MLAs stood up and started protesting against this.
Soon after, the Akali MLAs led by76 Sukhbir Badal walked out of the House in protest.
But the MLAs of their alliance partner BJP didn’t support them. They kept quiet while the Akalis were protesting. Neither did they stand up from their seats to show solidarity with their allies.
The AAP MLAs too kept mum while tributes were being paid to Gill.
Health Minister Brahm Mohindra requested the Speaker to re-read references to Gill, which according to him, could not be heard amid the noise made by the Akali MLAs.
When the Speaker started reading out again, MLA Simerjit Singh Bains of Lok Insaf Party (LIP), the alliance partner of AAP, stood up and started protesting.
As the Speaker ignored him, Bains and his brother Balwinder Singh Bains, the MLA from Ludhiana South, walked out in protest.
AAP MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira also stood up to oppose tributes to Gill but the Leader of the Opposition and AAP MLA from Dakha, HS Phoolka maintained silence.
Khaira took a dig at the Akalis accusing the Akalis of double-standards as the police officers close to Gill were given important positions under their government.
AAP MLA Baljinder Kaur demanded that tributes should be paid to the farmers who have committed suicides.
CM Amarinder Singh supported this demand which was accepted by the Speaker.
Local Government, Tourism and Culture Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu demanded that tributes should also be paid to those who have died due to drugs.
The House was adjourned till 10 am on Thursday.