Cong walks out of assembly on corruption case against Capt Singh

Chandigarh, Mar 29 (UNI) The opposition Congress today staged a walkout from the Punjab assembly to protest against the registeration of a corruption case against former chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh and his ministerial colleague Choudhary Jagjit Singh.

The opposition members were also agitated over the reported stand taken by the state counsel in the Supreme Court on section five of Punjab Termination of Water Agreements Act. The standing counsel had told the apex court that the state would honour the water sharing accord with the neighbouring states.

The Congress MLAs led by Leader of the Opposition Rajinder Kaur Bhattal trooped out of the House, shouting slogans against the government and expressing their dissatisfaction over Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal's statement on the two issues. They did not return to the House which after passing the vote on account was adjourned sine die.

Immediately after question hour, Mrs Bhattal demanded a statement on the case against Capt Singh and the stand of the state counsel in the Supreme Court. She was also not satisfied with the Chief Minister's reply given to the House on the case pertaining to the alleged harassement of Moga Congress MLA Joginder Pal Jain by Akali workers.

Mrs Bhattal claimed that the case against Capt Singh and Choudhary Jagjit Singh was fabricated as the Vigilance Bureau inquiry had given the two a clean chit in the Ludhiana City Centre scam case. She demanded that the inquiry report be made public.

Later addressing mediapersons outside the House, she maintained that the government was adopting double standards on the river waters issue. On the one hand the government had announced that it would do away with section five of the Termination of Water Agreements Act, while on the other hand its counsel has pledged to honour the water sharing agreement, she added.

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