SAD,BJP MLAs stage dharna outside Punjab Assembly

Chandigarh, Sep 19 (UNI) All the 42 members belonging to the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and two of the BJP today staged a 'dharna' outside the Punjab Assembly building, demanding a CBI inquiry into the multi crore Ludhiana City Centre scam.

The legislatures led by SAD chief and leader of the Opposition, Prakash Singh Badal raised slogans against Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh and the state government.They also demanded the immediate resignation of the Chief Minister, holding him directly responsible for the scam which had led to the suspension of the Ludhiana Improvement Trust by the government.The Trust had alloted the Rs 3000 crore project to Today Homes and Infrastructure.

They also criticised the role of Speaker Kewal Krishan for suspending the opposition MLAs from the Legislative Assembly, when they were exercising their democratic right and demanding a CBI inquiry into the City Centre scam.

The MLAs were suspended from the Assembly for their ''unruly behaviour'' and ''obstructing the proceedings of the assembly'' on September 15, the second day of the session. They were not satisfied with the Chief Minister's assurance that a vigilance inquiry had been ordered in the scam.

Addressing newspersons outside the Assembly, Mr Badal said that from September 27 onwards SAD 'jathas' would hold protests at the controversial City Centre project site in Ludhiana.The scam is the biggest in the history of Punjab and the Chief Minister was aware of '' what was going on'', he said while referring to the sting operation conducted by a private TV-channel showing money 'changing hands'.

Mr Badal announced that on September 23 the party would be submitting a memorandum to the state Governor demanding the dismissal of Capt Singh as Chief Minister.The memorandum would also highlight the role of the assembly Speaker in ordering their suspension, which was an undemocractic step.

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