Punab Assembly Speaker seeks explanation from officer

Chandigarh, Sep 5 (UNI) Punjab Assembly Speaker Nirmal Singh Kahlon has sought an explanation by a senior officer of the government finance department for the delay in sanction his tour to Malaysia for attending the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Conference.

The Speaker gave this information during the Zero Hour when Makhan Singh (Cong) demanded that the concerned officer should be summoned before the House to explain his conduct as it mounted to showing disrespect to the House and the Chair.

At this junction, the Speaker intervened and informed the House that he had sought an information from the officer as the matter was related to him. '' I have given a notice to the officer and sought his reply and thereafter I will decided on the course of action to be taken'', he added while making it clear that the 'technical snag' explanation given by the finance department did not hold weight.

''I am the custodian of the House and it is my duty to protect the stature and protocol of the House and its members'', he added while making it clear that there would be no laxity if the priveleges of the House were breached by anyone.

At this point, Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal intervened to inform the House that the delay in clearance of the tour was at his level and not at the level of the officer of his department.

The minister stated that he would come to the chamber of the Speaker and explain the delay. However Mr Kahlon made no comment on the Finance Minister's statement and did not permit anyone else from raising the issue.

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