Punjab Assembly adjourned twice

Chandigarh, Mar 21 (UNI) The Punjab Assembly was adjourned twice by Speaker Nirmal Singh Kahlon today following unruly scenes by opposition Congress members even as the House passed by voice vote the Punjab State Vigilance Commission (Repeal) Act 2007.

The trouble began when the Speaker asked Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to introduce a bill to repeal the Punjab State Vigilance Commission Act 2006 which was enacted by the previous Congress Government last year.

While participating in the discussion on the bill, Opposition congress leader Rajinder Kaur Bhattal instead demanded the Government announce a bonus of Rs 100 per quintal on wheat on the pattern of Central Government and sought discussion on the issue. At this, all congress members were on their feet in support of Mrs Bhattal.

However, the House passed the bill by voice vote even as the Congress members stated they were not given time to discuss the bill and went into the well of the House, shouting slogans.

As the Congress members ignored the Speaker's pleas to maintain calm and din prevailed, he adjourned the House for half a hour.

When the House reassembled, the Congress members again raised anti-government slogans and barged into the well of the House. Some of them even tried to advance towards the chair.

At this juncture, the Speaker had to summon the marshal to prevent the advance of Congress members towards the chair and again adjourned the House for half-an-hour even as a motion of thanks on the Governor address was moved by Mr Gurdip Singh Bhullar (SAD) amid slogan shouting.

Earlier, while Mr Badal was introducing the bill, the Congress members staged a walk-out for about ten minutes, raising their demands for discussion on bonus issue.

UNI