PUNJAB SPEAKER SUMMONS MILK PLANT GM

On a complaint filed by Gurdaspur MLA Barindermeet Singh Pahra, a first-time MLA of the Congress, Punjab assembly speaker Rana KP Singh has summoned the general manager of the Verka milk plant in Gurdaspur for “breach of special privilege” of an elected legislator. Rana has instructed GM Ashish Kumar Agarwal to appear in person before him on May 2. Pahra in his complaint had alleged that “as an elected representative of the people of Gurdaspur, he had asked the general manager about the functioning of the milk plant. In the course of interaction, instead of explaining about the working and losses to the unit, the general manager questioned his authority by asking “who are you” and adding that he was “not answerable to me”. A spokesperson of the assembly said that before handing the case over to the special privilege committee, the speaker wants to listen to the views of the milk plant GM.