Acrimonious scenes were witnessed in the Punjab Assembly on the last day of the Winter Session today as AAP MLAs and treasury benches sparred over the issue of illegal mining in the state.
During the Zero Hour, AAP MLA and Leader of Opposition Sukhpal Singh Khaira questioned the state government over the steps taken by it against illegal mining, prompting a sharp reaction from the treasury benches.
He even criticised the government for not making public a report of the Justice Narang Commission on mining.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Brahm Mohindra and Cabinet minister Navjot Singh Sidhu engaged in a heated exchange with Khaira after the AAP MLA accused Congress MLAs of being involved in illegal mining.
Sidhu said Khaira should be asked to tender an apology for casting aspersions on Congress MLAs.
Then, SAD MLA Pawan Kumar Tinu targeted the government on the law and order issue. He displayed a picture of Congress MLA Khushaldeep Dhillon purportedly with UP strongman Raja Bhaiyya and demanded a probe into the "serious" matter.
Replying to the charge, Dhillon claimed that Raja Bhaiyya had first gone to SAD chief Sukhbir Badal's house and then later to Akali leader Bikram Majithia's house.
Then Akali MLAs trooped to the Well of the House and started sloganeering following which they staged a walkout.
When the bills were being presented, Khaira withdrew his remarks against Congress MLAs on the issue of illegal mining but stuck to his demand for an inquiry into the matter.
When the legislative business was being taken up, Ludhiana MLA Simarjit Singh Bains raised the issue of seeking a royalty from other states for sharing water with them while referring to the resolution passed by the House in this regard last year.
Finance Minister Manpreet Badal said the discussion on the matter could only be held in a meeting of the inter-state council.
"The chief minister attended the recent meeting of the council in which Punjab demanded that water be treated like its minerals (are treated). We will continue to pursue the case," he said.
He said the state had also recorded its objection in the meeting of the council, formed to resolve any dispute between states.
Dissatisfied with the state government's response, MLAs of the AAP and the Lok Insaf Party (LIP) staged a walkout.
Earlier, during the Question Hour, AAP MLA Kanwar Sandhu had sought that toll tax at the plaza in Kurali be collected from the Sukhvilas Resort nearby rather than from the villagers.
Congress MLA Sukhjinder Randhawa questioned whether the government or concessionaire of toll plaza constructed the road near the resort. Another party MLA Balbir Sidhu asked whether the road was constructed for villagers or the resort.
Replying to the query, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Brahm Mohindra said he would get the proposal examined.
Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content
