Personal attack on Badal leads to unruly scenes in assembly

Chandigarh, Mar 11 (UNI) The Punjab assembly today witnessed unruly scenes when Sukhpal Singh Khaira (Cong) objected to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal being refered to a 'saint statesman' in the Governor's address.

" Can we accord this status to someone who has been charge sheeted by a special court of Ropar under the Prevention of Corruption Act", he asked while taking part in the discussion on the Governors address.

This immediately brought a number of members of the ruling benches on their feet and they protested against the personalised attack on the chief minister.

Mr Khaira wanted know the achievements of Mr Badal, who was in his fourth term as chief minister.

The Congress MLA claimed that Mr Badal alongwith Simranjit Singh Mann of the Akali Dal (Amritsar) had submitted a memorandum for the creation of an independent Sikh state to the then visiting Secretary General of UNO, Mr Boutros-Ghali in 1992.

Mr Khaira even criticised the Chief Minister for ridiculing the farm debt waiver announced in the Union Budget and calling it a fraud with the farmers of Punjab. He demanded the loans of 'Arhtiyas' or commission agents should be waived off by the state government on the lines of the waiver announced by the Centre.

UNI HS JS2023