CAPT AMARINDER SLAMS SAD FOR DISRUPTING BUDGET PROCEEDINGS

 Chandigarh, February 18:

Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has slammed the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) for disrupting the proceedings of the House ahead of the important Budget presentation this morning.

Budget presentation is a vital proceeding, which the people of the state await eagerly every year, the Chief Minister said, lashing out at the Akalis for targeting Navjot Singh Sidhu to divert attention from such an important Assembly matter.

Reacting strongly to the slogan-shouting by the Akalis, Captain Amarinder said the party had clearly lost all sense of morality and uprightness, as evident in their desperate efforts every day to reduce the House proceedings to a mockery. Instead of playing the role of a constructive opposition, they were repeatedly resorting to petty political tactics to remain in media and public limelight, said the Chief Minister.

After the SAD created yet another fracas in the House, throwing all democratic ideals to the wind, Captain Amarinder said such unconstitutional behaviour was not only unbecoming of the party of national stature but actually exposed their anti-people mindset. They neither cared for the traditions of the House nor were concerned about the welfare of the people, said the Chief Minister, lambasting the Akalis for their unruly acts in the august precincts of the state Vidhan Sabha.

The rowdy behaviour of the attention-seeking Akali leaders and members in the Assembly had become a routine thing, suggesting that it was nothing but a drama aimed at garnering public support and vote, said the Chief Minister. Though disruption of the House proceedings was unacceptable under any circumstances, it became totally abominable when aimed at gaining political mileage by indulging in pure theatrics, he added.

The Chief Minister called upon all the Opposition parties not to undermine the dignity of the House with such uncouth and undemocratic behaviour. It was the duty and responsibility of each elected member to uphold the high ideals on which was founded the democratic polity of the nation, he added.