Assembly admits no-confidence motion against Punjab govt

Chandigarh, Sep 9 (PTI) Punjab Assembly Speaker CharanjitSingh Atwal today admitted a no-confidence motion against theruling SAD-BJP combine in the state, moved by oppositionCongress, even as the House saw acrimonious scenes after abreach of privilege motion against Deputy Chief MinisterSukhbir Singh Badal was rejected by him. After the Question Hour on the second day of the MonsoonSession, Leader of Opposition and Congress MLA Charanjit SinghChanni moved the no-confidence motion against the Punjabgovernment. It was moved on various grounds, including "failure of thestate government in protecting the interests of the state onthe SYL canal issue, deteriorating law and order situation,emergence of mafia groups, rampant corruption, deterioratingfiscal position of the state, failure in apprehending theculprits behind the Bargari sacrilege case". The Speaker admitted the motion under Rule 58 of the Rulesof Procedure and Conduct of Business in Punjab Assembly andtold the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader that he wouldallot time for the same. The motion was supported by Independent MLA brothersSimarjit Singh Bains and Balwinder Singh Bains. Later, former chief minister and senior Congress leaderRajinder Kaur Bhattal raised an objection to distribution ofcheques to the tune of Rs 16 crore by the wife of stateFinance Minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa, despite ChiefMinister Parkash Singh Badal’s assurance that except MLAs andministers, no one else could distribute cheques. "It is a violation of constitutional provisions," Bhattalclaimed and sought a reply from the Treasury benches claimingthat she had proof of distribution of cheques in her Assemblyconstituency. However, the Speaker said he could not force the Treasurybenches to reply on the same. At this, opposition members stood up and vociferouslydemanded an answer from the Treasury benches. Bhattal said this could also be described as a "breach ofprivilege" as the Leader of the House had given an assuranceto the members in this regard. Then, Congress MLA Rana Gurmeet Singh Sodhi sought passageof a resolution for setting up of statues of martyrs likeBhagat Singh, Udham Singh in the Assembly complex to apprisethe youth of the history of the country’s freedom struggle. At this, the chief minister hit out at the previousCongress government in the state for "not even thinkingof setting up memorials for martyrs and war heroes". PTI CHSAKA RC SCRC