Part of newly floated front 'Awaaz-e-Punjab', former hockey captain Pargat Singh today "defied the whip" of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and joined Independent MLAs -- the Bains brothers -- in the Punjab Assembly.
He had resigned from SAD earlier in the day.
Taking serious note of his action, SAD spokesperson and Chief Whip Daljit Singh Cheema brought the matter of the "whip being defied" by Pargat, along with Inderbir Singh Bolaria, to the notice of the Speaker describing it as "indiscipline".
SAD had issued a whip on September 8 to all its MLAs, asking them to be present during the ongoing session of the House in the wake of a no-confidence motion moved by opposition Congress against the Punjab government.
Former captain of the Indian hockey team Pargat, who had announced his resignation from SAD earlier in the day, was sitting among the ruling members during Question Hour.
Subsequently, he went and sat with Independent MLAs Simarjit Singh Bains and Balwinder Singh Bains who were seeking a private resolution on the water issue.
The Bains brothers, Pargat and cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu had recently announced the formation of Awaaz-e-Punjab.
Pargat also sat in the Well of the House, along with the Bains brothers, during Question Hour.
Taking exception to it, Cheema described the act as "gross indiscipline".
"I saw Pargat Singh crossing the floor and sitting with the Independent MLAs which is a serious matter of indiscipline. He was supposed to maintain discipline in the House. I want to bring this act of indiscipline on the record," he told the House.
State Parliamentary Affairs Minister Madan Mohan Mittal said, "Pargat not only changed his seat but also joined the Bains brothers in their protest."
Meanwhile, BJP MLA from Amritsar Navjot Kaur Sidhu, the wife of former Rajya Sabha MP Navjot Singh Sidhu, kept sitting with the ruling members. Congress members were seen pointing towards her, asking her to join the Bains brothers who had rushed to the Well to press their demand for a private resolution on the water issue.
The Bains brothers remained seated in the Well throughout the proceedings after the Speaker turned down their demand.
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