Massive personal abuse, little public use mark budget session

Listless opposition wastes opportunities to corner Cong govt on host of issues

CHANDIGARH: Before the start of the budget session of the Punjab assembly on March 20, the opposition Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) had made separate, big plans to put the Capt Amarinder Singhled Congress government on the mat. But what happened in the seven working days of the session that ended on March 28 did not quite align with that vision, if any.

In the run-up, AAP and its since-former alliance partner Lok Insaaf Party (LIP) had even brought out a “chargesheet” against the government on completion of a year of its term. On the first day of the session, the SAD-BJP combine held a massive protest in Chandigarh over the government’s “not honouring” its promise of “complete” waiver of farm loans.

During the session, they could not take the fight to the government. Not because they lacked issues. There was enough ammunition — from the rampant illegal mining, to a piecemeal approach to farm loan waiver, to “goonda” tax and the delay in implementation of other election manifesto promises.

But principal opposition AAP, which had pushed the Congress government on the back foot in previous sessions with its firebrand leader Sukhpal Singh Khaira leading the charge, was lacklustre from the start this time.

AAP was done in by a rift within, which led to a revolt by a section of party MLAS and even break-up threats at one stage, over its national convener and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal’s apology to SAD’S Bikram Singh Majithia in a defamation case related to drug charges just five days before the session.

The government, on the other hand, managed to conduct its business, including getting the budget and important bills passed, without hiccups. When the government brought bills on new taxes for resource mobilisation of Rs 1,500 crore, AAP protested and staged a walkout. SAD members, who left the House after the finance minister’s remarks against the Badal clan earlier, were not even present.

What stood out was that the session was dominated by ugly personal fights, with bitter political adversaries routinely calling each other names. At one stage, former minister Rana Gurjit Singh and leader of opposition Khaira, who repeatedly exchanged verbal punches, hurled abuses at each other. The spat between local bodies minister Navjot Singh Sidhu and Majithia over a drug racket case also resonated in the House.

Closing days saw estranged cousins, finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal and SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal, get extremely personal in their fight. While Sukhbir made disparaging remarks about Manpreet’s competence, he hit back with a diatribe against paternal uncle and SAD patriarch Parkash Singh Badal and his family.

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A good FM gives fresh, constructive ideas while a bad one gives only figures. A competent FM has solutions, but an incompetent one will talk about problems alone. He (Manpreet) is incompetent. More poet, less FM! SUKHBIR BADAL, in budget debate

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They say that Manpreet does not know how to handle the finance portfolio. Yes, I do not know how to operate buses, how to sell chitta (heroin), set up fivestar hotels, or loot the state exchequer.

MANPREET BADAL, in reply to debate

‘PROVE OR QUIT’

Meanwhile, Sukhbir on Thursday dared Manpreet to prove the allegation that the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) arranged langar (community kitchen) at the antim ardas bhog (memorial prayers) of his mother Surinder Kaur Badal, or quit politics.

“I offer to quit politics forever if Manpreet can prove his allegation. Similarly, he should either prove his charge or agree to quit politics,” Sukhbir said in a press statement, a day after Manpreet hit out at former CM Parkash Singh Badal (Sukhbir’s father) and his family in the assembly.

He said he was amused to see Manpreet acting and speaking with the bitterness of a jealous man. “Instead of replying to our attack on his budget, he chose to spend most of his time venting spleen on his erstwhile patron and father-like figure Parkash Singh Badal, to whom he owes his very presence in politics.”

Manpreet was with the SAD and also remained finance minister in Parkash Singh Badalled SAD-BJP regie before forming his own party ahead of the 2012 elections and then merging it with the Congress ahead of last year’s polls.