CHANDIGARH: Leader of opposition in Punjab assembly Partap Singh Bajwa termed the allegation of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) ministers that the Congress MLAs did not move any question for listing in the current session of the Vidhan Sabha as a "ploy to cover-up their constitutional fraud" by proposing a general session and then holding sitting of the House in the nature of special session to pursue its agenda of moving ‘vote of confidence’.
While quoting Rule 34 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Bajwa stated a 15 days’ notice is to be given for a question to be listed during the session so that reply to the same from the department concerned can be obtained. Thereafter, the question is listed for oral answer by the minister on the floor of the House.
He stated that the accusation of the ministers against the opposition lost its sheen when even the question hour was not being held for discussions of replies to the 45 questions given by AAP MLAs. “Truly speaking, this session is a clear betrayal of the trust posed in the government by the head of the state, that is, the governor,” said Bajwa.
He stated the opposition did convey to the speaker important issues it wanted to discuss in the House, which had been overlooked. Even the substantive motion, proposed to expose the fraud played upon the people of Punjab, had been disallowed on the ground that it fell short of the notice period.
The government persisted with its hidden agenda of discussion ‘Operation Lotus’ though there was no challenge to the trust posed in them by the people of Punjab, he said. “Instead of seriously addressing the grievances of the people in the right earnest, the AAP-led government has brought this session with an eye on outcome of elections going to be held in Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat,” he claimed.
