Speaker disallows resolution against Gujarat Govt

Chandigarh: Members of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) today staged a walkout from the Vidhan Sabha after ruling party MLA Dr Daljit Singh Cheema brought in a resolution to build pressure on the Centre to take up the issue of the Quebec provincial government banning religious symbols by those in government jobs.

The Congress MLAs wanted to bring in a resolution to compel the Gujarat Government to withdraw the appeal filed by it in the Supreme Court on the eviction of Punjabi farmers from their land in the Kutch region.

When the Speaker, Charanjit Singh Atwal, did not allow the resolution to be taken up, raising slogans against the SAD- BJP Government, the Congress MLAs rushed to the well of the House and then walked out.

The protest came at a time when the House was to hold a two-minute silence in memory of those killed in the 1984 genocide. Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal remarked that the Congress was “anti-Punjab and that is the reason Congress MLAs want to keep out of the House.”

Tardy lifting

The issue of tardy paddy procurement was taken up in the House by Gidderbaha MLA Amarinder Singh Raja Warring.

He said state government agencies had failed to do their job. He pointed out that the farmers were forced to sell their paddy at prices lower than the minimum support price (MSP) with government agencies refusing to lift their produce.

Food and Supplies Minister Adesh Pratap Singh Kairaon then explained the process of procurement and said it was only in cases where paddy did not meet the quality specifications laid down by the Centre that the agencies were unable to procure paddy.

Other issues

• House holds two-minute silence in memory of those killed in the 1984 genocide
• Gidderbaha MLA Warring speaks up for harried farmers
• Says state government agencies have failed to lift the stocks; farmers resorting to distress sale

Source: The Tribune