MLA Bains refutes Speaker’s charge

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, September 11

Independent MLA Simarjit Singh Bains today termed the Vidhan Sabha Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal’s statement that they (Simarjit and his brother Balwinder Singh Bains) had insulted Dr BR Ambedkar as a “travesty of truth”.

He said he held Dr Ambedkar in high esteem. “I cannot even in my wildest thought ever disrespect Dr Ambedkar.”

Simarjit said he had sought to bring in a private member’s resolution in the Assembly with a demand that Rajasthan should pay Rs 16 lakh crore to Punjab for using its river water for the last more than five decades.

“Dr Ambedkar was the Architect of the Indian Constitution that does not allow step-motherly treatment to any state. My point on the river water issue reflected the basic principles enshrined in the Constitution,” he added.