Ruckus in Punjab Assembly over farm laws as Budget session begins

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 1  

Being held in the shadow of the farmers’ agitation against the three central agricultural laws, the Budget session of the Punjab Assembly was off to a stormy start with the Opposition MLAs protesting over various issues.

AAP legislators on Monday came to the Punjab Vidhan Sabha on bicycles, shouting slogans against the alleged “unfulfilled promises of the Congress government”.

Ahead of the start of Governor’s address, Akali Dal MLAs led by Bikram Singh Majithia raised slogans of “go back Governor” over the farm Bills.

The Opposition members questioned the Governor for "not sending the amendments" passed by the Punjab Vidhan Sabha on the farm Bills to the President.

As many as 40 Congress MLAs, including Navjot Singh Sidhu and Pargat Singh, are present in the House. The Akalis raised slogans as the Governor began his address.

The Akalis stormed the Well of the House, raising slogans against the Governor.

Obituary

The Punjab Assembly paid tributes to the farmers who died during the ongoing agitation against the Centre's farm laws. Several farmers who were part of the agitation against the three farm legislations had died due to varied reasons, including health issues like heart attack.

On the first day of the Budget session, the House also remembered former Union Home Minister Buta Singh, former ministers MS Gill, Major Singh Uboke, Bal Mukund Sharma and Satpal Gosain.

The House also paid tributes to noted Punjabi singer Sardool Sinkander, “bhajan” singer Narinder Chanchal and freedom fighters Ajit Singh, Gohal Singh Tur and Balwant Singh.

A two-minute silence was observed as a mark of respect to the departed souls.