Punjab Assembly rocked by SYL issue

Chandigarh, Mar 16: Opposition Congress today staged a walkout in the Punjab Assembly after the Speaker refused to allow them to raise the vexed issue of construction of Sutlej Yamuna Link canal.

During the Zero hour, Leader of Opposition Charanjit Singh Channi wanted to discuss about the status of the Bill on Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL), which was disallowed by the Speaker, sparking protests from the Congress members leading to adjournment of the House for 47 minutes.

The Speaker noted that the issue was a "procedural matter" and he will not allow the opposition to speak on it. Channi along with his party members then went into the well of the House and raised slogans against the state government.

The Speaker said that the matter has gone to the Legal Remembrance (LR) and he will not allow the opposition members to rake up the issue.

As the House re-assembled, Channi was again on his feet asking the Speaker why Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, who led a delegation to the Governor yesterday on the issue, did not carry a copy of the Bill with him.

"The Governor has not given ascent to the Bill as Badal failed to carry it along with him yesterday when the CM went to meet him," he said. Congress members later trooped out of the House.

Manoranjan Kalia of BJP alleged the opposition wanted to create a law and order problem in the state. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Madan Mohan Mittal said the Congress had been directed by their senior party leaders not to allow smooth functioning of Parliament and state assemblies.

Later, the Congress boycotted the proceedings in the Assembly related to general discussion on budget estimates.

PTI