AAP walks out over guv’s warondrugs claim
Two party MLAs stay back in House ignoring whip of the leader of opposition; no action against them as there was some ‘communication gap’
CHANDIGARH: The Aam Admi Party (AAP) on Tuesday staged a walkout from the Punjab Vidhan Sabha when governor VP Singh Badnore during his address claimed that the state government’ is fighting the drug menace with an iron hand and is rehabilitating all addicts.
The governor was speaking on the opening day of seven-daylong budget session.
On this, leader of opposition in the assembly and AAP leader Sukhpal Singh Khaira got up and shouted, “These are false facts, false facts,” and walked out along with 14 party MLAs.
However, two party MLAs — Amarjit Singh Sandhoa and Kultar Singh Sandhwan — chose to stay back ignoring the leader of opposition’s whip.
Khaira said action will be taken against the two soon. Later, when the MLAs said there was some communication gap, it was decided that no action will be taken against them.
“The first task of my government was to set up a special task force (STF) to apprehend drug traffickers and break the supply chain. My government has busted eight modules used involved in the killing of leaders of Hindu, Christian and other communities. The government has set up the Justice Ranjit Singh commission to enquire into cases of sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib, Quran and Bhagwat Gita,” said Badnore on crucial issues concerning the government.
Badnore said the government has also set up the Justice Mehtab Singh commission of inquiry to ensure justice to all those against whom false cases were registered during the previous (Shiromani Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party) government.
“The commission has recommended cancellation of 225 cases besides recommending compensation and disciplinary action in 31 cases,” he said.
‘PUNJAB DOESN’T HAVE SURPLUS WATER’
He said the state does not have surplus water and any attempt to transfer the waters of the Ravi, Beas and the Sutlej to other nonbasin states will not be allowed. Over depleting underground water, he said the government will make efforts to put ‘intelligent irrigation system in place.
FARM DEBT RELIEF
Badnore said the state has requested the Centre for financial support for farm debt waiver even as the latter is yet to take a decision on this. The state is fully committed to provide a relief of ₹2 lakh to small and marginal farmers each, he said.
“As promised, my government has abolished Section 67-A of the Punjab Cooperative Societies Act, 1961, to reassure farmers that there will be no auction of land (kurki) to recover pending dues from them. The government is also planning to amend the Punjab Agricultural Debt Reconciliation Act, 2016, to provide a forum to deal with non-institutional farm loans. A farm policy being drafted will streamline farmers’ issues,” he said.
‘INFANT MORTALITY DOWN IN STATE’
Badnore said infant mortality in the state has come down considerably from 44 per 1,000 births in 2005 to 21 per 1,000 births in 2016.
“With opening of 10 state-ofthe-art mother and child hospitals at Ludhiana, Patiala, Amritsar, Bathinda, Barnala, Mohali, Kapurthala, Batala, Manawala and Ajnala, there will be further reduction in infant mortality,” the governor said.
‘ TO MARK GURU NANAK 550TH BIRTH ANNIV’
The governor announced in the Vidhan Sabha that the state government will celebrate the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev in November 2019.
“The preparation has already started. The government will also commemorate 100 years of the Jallianwala bagh massacre in April 2019,” the governor further said.
GOVERNOR SAYS GOVT HAS BUSTED EIGHT MODULES INVOLVED IN KILLING OF LEADERS OF HINDU, CHRISTIAN AND OTHER COMMUNITIES