Opposition Congress legislators 'sleep' in Punjab assembly

Chandigarh, Sep 13: Protesting against the ruling SAD-BJP government in Punjab, opposition Congress legislators spent their night in the assembly here and will stay in it till Wednesday morning when the house assembles again.

"All the Congress legislators participated in the day-long protest over the Speaker's refusal to allow our members to speak on a no-confidence motion," Congress Legislative Party leader Charanjit Singh Channi told IANS on Tuesday.

He said the legislators spent their night inside the house to lodge their protest despite the electricity was disconnected.

"Our protest inside the assembly would continue till the house assembles on Wednesday," Channi added.

The Congress was demanding debate on government's failure to protect the interest of the state on the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal and deteriorating law and order situation in the state.

The protesters included four women legislators.

"We have requested the assembly secretary to provide three or four women support staff to ensure our safety in the night but no one was there," legislator Karan Kaur Brar said.

She said they spent their night in the house without lights and air-conditioning.

Official sources said 27 legislators stayed throughout the night using hand fans.

Describing the first-of-its-kind incident in the state unfortunate, Congress leader and former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said the government did not want to discuss the issues related to the common man in the house.

This is the last session of the assembly before the state goes to the polls in early next year.

The trouble started when the no-confidence motion of the Congress was defeated even before the debate could take place by a voice vote on Monday and amidst pandemonium Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal adjourned the house till Wednesday.

IANS