House admits no-confidence motion against Punjab govt

Punjab Assembly Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal on Friday admitted a no-confidence motion against the ruling SAD-BJP combine in the state, moved by opposition Congress, even as the House saw acrimonious scenes after a breach of privilege motion against Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal was rejected by him.

After the Question Hour on the second day of the Monsoon Session, Leader of Opposition and Congress MLA Charanjit Singh Channi moved the no-confidence motion against the Punjab government.

It was moved on various grounds, including “failure of the state government in protecting the interests of the state on the SYL canal issue, deteriorating law and order situation, emergence of mafia groups, rampant corruption, deteriorating fiscal position of the state, failure in apprehending the culprits behind the Bargari sacrilege case”.

The Speaker admitted the motion under Rule 58 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Punjab Assembly and told the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader that he would allot time for the same. The motion was supported by Independent MLA brothers Simarjit Singh Bains and Balwinder Singh Bains.

Later, former chief minister and senior Congress leader Rajinder Kaur Bhattal raised an objection to distribution of cheques to the tune of Rs 16 crore by the wife of state Finance Minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa, despite Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s assurance that except MLAs and ministers, no one else could distribute cheques. “It is a violation of constitutional provisions,” Bhattal claimed.