Punjab Assembly expels Amarinder Singh, declares his seat vacant

Chandigarh, Sep 10 : Congress leader and former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh was expelled from the Punjab Assembly on Wednesday after being indicted by a House committee in a graft case and his seat declared vacant.

A resolution to his effect was moved by ruling Shiromani Akali Dal MLA Harish Rai Dhanda and passed in the

Assembly amid protests by slogan-shouting Congress members who boycotted the proceedings.

The Election Commission will be asked to hold by-elections and Director of the Vigilance Bureau will be directed to inquire into the Amritsar land scam, in which Singh was indicted, and submit a report within two months, the resolution said.

The 66-year-old Congress leader, who represents Patiala, was on Friday indicted by a special committee of the

Assembly for alleged irregularities in exempting 32.10 acres of land for private development in Amritsar during his tenure as chief minister.

The ruling SAD had yesterday issued a whip to its MLAs asking them to remain present in the Assembly today when it was to debate the report of the Committee.

The Special Committee of the Assembly in its report had indicted Singh, two former ministers and a Congress leader in a land deal involving the Amritsar Improvement Trust.

ANI