AAP MLAs ahead of raising public-centric issues; government and speaker’s stance preferential

Chandigarh, February 27

Leader of (LoP) in Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Harpal Singh Cheema on Wednesday claimed that during the 7th session of 15th Vidhan Sabha session which came to an end on February 25, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs took up a maximum number of people-centric issues, precisely 191 questions, 22 Call Attention Motions, half a dozen adjournment motions and 60 Cut Motions.

Similarly, dozens of public centric issues were brought to the House for discussion during the Zero Hour, prominent among them included the Ludhiana multi-crore Grand Manor Homes scam involving among others, the state Cabinet minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu. The issue was raised by Deputy LoP Sarabjit Kaur Manuke.

In a statement issued from the party headquarters here on Wednesday, LoP Cheema while expressed his satisfaction over the seriousness of the AAP MLAs on taking up the peoples’ issues for discussion, he was critical of the non-committal attitude of the government and the Vidhan Sabha speaker Rana K P Singh.

Cheema said that the duration of the session had been curtailed to mere 7 sittings, which, he said was not suffice to take up the issues of the people of the state leaving hardly any time for debate or discussion.

He further added that he, by dint of Leader of Opposition, had sought an audience from the Chair special sessions for the key issues faced by the people of the state. He had sought to special session for certain issues of paramount importance the state was facing, including complete loan waiver, farmers’ suicides, polluted waters, unemployment, menace of drugs, distant education, et al where all political parties could make their party’s standpoint clear and categorical. But all these demands raised by AAP were declined by the Chair.

He alleged that out of the 191 questions only 30 (star-marked) were allowed to be discussed in the House. While others, including transfer of Punjabi-speaking areas to Punjab, distribution of river waters, lathi-charge on protesting teachers, taming of the liquor mafia, raising of Liquor corporations, and 400 unit free power to economically weaker sections, et al were not allowed for discussion by the speaker.