Congress Legislature Party leader in Punjab Charanjit Singh Channi has appealed to the Assembly Speaker for a longer budget session so that all significant issues could be discussed threadbare.
Talking to reporters here today, Channi said ruling SAD-BJP dispensation might opt for a short session so as to avoid any discussion on people's issues. The session should be of at least 25 days, he said.
The Leader of the Opposition in Assembly said he has written to the Speaker, requesting that adequate time be allotted for separate discussions on law and order, atrocities against dalits, farmers' problems, drug menace, unemployment, flight of industry from the state.
"We want separate time for detailed discussion on financial mess, bankruptcy resulting in sale of public properties and anarchist situation prevailing under the SAD-BJP regime," he said.
He alleged that a "politically-motivated" and false case has been registered against Congress leader Balbir Raja Sodhi. On coming to power, Congress would cancel all false cases against party workers and also take to task erring officials, he said.
Channi, a dalit leader, batted for allocation of one-thirds position to members of the community in state Congress leadership.
Seeking to allay fear of the party's dalit leaders that any tie-up with BSP could eat into their shares of party's seats in 2017 assembly polls, Channi said "the poll pact with BSP won't be at cost of the party's dalit leaders."
Denying any conspiracy by Congress behind the Jat quota stir in Haryana, Channi attributed the agitation to alleged failure of the Manohar Lal Khattar government.
On AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal's proposed five-day visit of Punjab from tomorrow, Channi said "it will make no difference to us".
"Congress faces no threat from AAP in Punjab as AAP now stands exposed as a party of reneged promises while its leaders indulging in double-speak," he said.
