Hear Opposition out: Punjab Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan silences AAP MLAs

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 30

The House today discussed a range of issues during the Question Hour and Zero Hour on the last day of the Budget session.

Legislators from across the political spectrum participated in the debate, ranging from work related to the Revenue Department to getting basic facilities such as clean drinking water; weaning away youth from drugs to curbing the influence of gangsters by encouraging the youth to take up sports.

No adjournments during six-day session

Opposition MLAs appreciated Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan for conducting the six-day-long session smoothly. They said it was after ages that an entire session was conductedwithout adjournments and a debate on many burning issues was held, with MLAs across the political spectrum participating rather than boycotting the session.

Though there were usual disagreements between the Treasury and Opposition benches, Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan ensured that no one felt offended and the House functioned smoothly.

Though he was accused by his own party MLAs of giving more than required time to Opposition legislators, Sandhwan was quick to point out that it was important to hear out Opposition MLAs for a healthy democracy to function properly.

“You are on the Treasury benches. You have to work. You have to listen to them (Opposition MLAs),” he said, silencing his party colleague Daljit Singh Bhola Grewal, MLA from Ludhiana East.

Urmur MLA Jasvir Singh Raja Gill, too, said Opposition MLAs, especially Sukhpal Singh Khaira, usually got more time to speak than ruling party MLAs.

Many AAP MLAs demanded inquiry into development works undertaken during the previous Congress government. Ajay Gupta wanted an investigation into illegal distilleries in Amritsar, while Sheetal Angural wanted a probe into the construction of a community hall in Jalandhar. And Kunwar Vijay Pratap wanted an investigation into the sacrilege incidents of 2015 and a debate in the House. Incidentally, he found an unlikely ally in Partap Singh Bajwa, who said 30 minutes should be reserved for a debate on the matter.

Leader of the Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa wanted to bring in a resolution, condemning the banning of Sidhu Moosewala’s song titled “SYL”.

Several MLAs flagged polluted water and water not reaching villages situated at the tail-end of canals. The shortage of doctors in primary health centres was also raised.

Opposition legislators raised the issue of fund-starved colleges in Bholath, stopping of grants by the Rural Development and Panchayats Department and increase in GST for agricultural implements.

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