The second day of the winter session of the Punjab Assembly witnessed unruly scenes today with the principal opposition AAP alleging a conspiracy against its MLA Sukhpal Khaira in a drug case and sought a CBI probe into the matter.
Members of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) also disrupted the proceedings of the House questioning the state government on the implementation of the farm debt waiver.
Hitting out at the opposition, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh accused it of "wasting" public money and precious time of the House by disrupting the Question Hour and not allowing the Assembly to function.
Immediately after the Question Hour began, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and its ally Lok Insaf Party (LIP) MLAs, led by the leader of opposition Khaira, were up on their feet as they sought an adjournment motion to demand a CBI probe into what they alleged was a conspiracy against Khaira in a drug case.
When the Speaker asked them to raise their issue during the Zero Hour, AAP and LIP MLAs, who were carrying placards, trooped into the Well of the House and shouted slogans.
Akali and BJP MLAs also rose from their seats demanding implementation of farm debt waiver, as promised by the Congress led Punjab government.
Amid the din, it became difficult for the members and ministers of the House to hear their names being called by the Speaker for raising questions and giving replies.
After some time, Akali MLAs, wearing badges rushed to the Well of the House. Members of AAP and SAD even came face to face in the Well and raised slogans against each other.
Former chief minister Parkash Singh Badal and former deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal were also present in the House.
At around 10:30 am, the Speaker adjourned the House for 30 minutes.
When the House reassembled during the Zero Hour, AAP and LIP MLAs again demanded an independent investigation into the drug case. However, the Speaker said the matter was sub- judice.
Khaira was summoned by a Fazilka Court in a drug case on November 30.
During the Zero Hour, Akalis trooped into the Well of the House seeking a discussion on farm debt waiver. They continued to stand in the Well of House raising slogans.
Members of the AAP staged a walk out over the issue of reduction in the number of sittings of the House, saying they had a lot of issues like illegal mining, drug, unemployment, heath to be discussed in the House.
Later, the Speaker granted the committee of the House examining the farmers' suicides and financial crisis faced by farm labourers to submit its report by January 5, 2018.
The House unanimously passed a resolution, recommending that the state government should approach the department of civil aviation under the Centre to name the domestic terminal of Adampur airport in Jalandhar after Guru Ravidas.
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