Censure motion passed against Simarjeet Bains

A censure motion was passed by the Punjab assembly on Tuesday against Lok Insaaf Party (LIP) legislator Simarjeet Singh Bains for using unparliamentary language against Congress member Harpartap Singh Ajnala.

The motion was moved by parliamentary affairs minister Brahm Mohindra after Ajnala and several other MLAS objected to the member’s language, seeking action against Bains. The unparliamentary words were also expunged by the speaker from the proceedings.

The commotion over use of “foul language” took place during the question hour when the LIP legislator was asking a supplementary to AAP MLA Sukhpal Khaira’s query on the fat content in milk purchased by Verka plants in the state and the varying purchase rates in different districts. Khaira had asked the speaker to allow Simarjeet to ask supplementary questions on his behalf as he had made efforts to expose corruption in milk business in the state.

The LIP member, while asking the supplementary, got into an argument with the Congress member and used unparliamentary language. Speaker Rana KP Singh expunged the words, terming them as “not proper”. Parliamentary affairs minister Brahm Mohindra also expressed concern over the level of discussion used in the House. “This kind of language is not acceptable and mere expunging such words is not enough,” he said.

While Ajnala pressed for action, several other Congress members also asked the parliamentary affairs minister to move the censure motion immediately. Akali MLA Parminder Dhindsa said there should be no double standards. “We raised this issue yesterday with regard to a minister’s remark, but no action was taken,” he said.