Akalis, AAP ready to corner Congress govt

SAD leaders led by president Sukhbir Singh Badal are planning to gather at rally ground in Chandigarh and then march towards the assembly

CHANDIGARH : With the eightday budget session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha starting on Monday, the opposition parties –Shiromani Akali Dal and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) – are all set to corner the ruling Congress on the state government’s alleged “failure to fulfill the promises made in the run-up to the 2017 polls”.

On the first day of the session that will conclude on March 10, the SAD plans to put up a show of strength by gheraoing the assembly.

The party leaders and workers led by president Sukhbir

Singh Badal are planning to gather in large numbers at the Sector 25 rally ground in Chandigarh and then march towards the assembly.

The AAP is also expected to stage a protest but refused to divulge the precise course of action.

It, however, has decided to question the government on the issues of minimum support price (MSP) for crops, alleged post-matric scholarship scam, farm loan waiver and rising power prices in the upcoming session.

“It has been 4 years and none of the promises made during the last polls have been fulfilled. The government has failed on all counts and the CM must explain it,” said leader of opposition Harpal Singh Cheema.

The Congress is also planning to gherao Raj Bhawan against fuel price rise, holding the Bjpled government at the Centre responsible for it.

Keeping the 2022 assembly polls in mind, both the key opposition parties do not want to miss the opportunity to highlight the Congress government’s “failures on various fronts” during the four-year rule as it is its last budget.

On the other hand, the cashstrapped government is expected to make a last-ditch effort to woo the electorate through populist measures.

Also, the session, which is being held under the shadows of the ongoing farmers’ protest at the Delhi borders, coincides with completion of four years of the Congress in power.

Since the protests have a tacit support of the Amarinder Singhled government, the AAP and SAD plan to regain their lost ground.

Akali MLA and former minister Bikram Singh Majithia said the Congress government had betrayed all sections of society. On the ruling party’s plan to gherao Raj Bhawan, he said it only exposed its double standards.

Budget to be tabled on March 5

As per the schedule, the opening day will start with the governor’s address followed by obituary references for prominent people who recently died.

For the next two days, the House will hold discussions on the governor’s address.

The budget estimates for the 2021-22 financial year will be presented on March 5 (Friday).

The opposition parties have demanded extension of the session as “the problems faced by the state and its people can’t be discussed in detail in eight sittings”.

It has been 4 years and none of the promises made during the last polls have been fulfilled. The CM must explain it. HARPAL SINGH CHEEMA, leader of opposition