‘AAP MLAS in cahoots with Cong to save position’

CHANDIGARH : The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Wednesday accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAS of being in cahoots with the ruling Congress to save their position and thus compromising the role of opposition.

Former finance minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa said leader of opposition Harpal Singh Cheema never asked for extending the sitting of the House and the speaker extended session by a day after persistent demand by the SAD on Tuesday.

Addressing mediapersons on the sidelines of the ongoing session, Dhindsa along with former minister Bikram Singh Majithia said never before had any opposition party in Punjab remained silent on the government’s role like AAP did.

“The manner in which Cheema remained silent in the meeting of the business advisory committee when discussion was held on the length of the session and during the assembly session today shows that AAP is in collusion with the Congress,” they said.

Dhindsa said during a meeting of the business advisory committee he repeatedly requested Cheema to register his protest against the manner in which the ruling party was pushing for a short one-week budget session, but to no avail.

“Cheema did not pay heed to my requests and when voting was to take place on the committee’s recommendations. He refused to demand a longer session to discuss the crucial issues concerning the state,” he said.

Majithia said this was happening because Cheema did not want to lose the post of opposition leader. “The AAP legislators, who had resigned from the primary membership of the assembly, stood disqualified as per constitutional provisions. But the speaker has not taken a decision on this matter. How are they getting salary, house facility and security?” asked Majithia.

“Things have deteriorated to such a level that a case was registered 27 hours after the Ludhiana gangrape incident,” he said.

CONG MLA QUESTIONS MINISTER ON PROJECT

Congress MLA Randeep Singh Nabha questioned industries minister Sunder Sham Arora on the announcement to establish a steel chamber and industrial training centre at Mandi Gobindgarh. Arora said the announcement was made but a proposal was to be submitted by the Gobindgarh

GOVT TO CONSIDER FENCING SUBSIDY FOR POOR FARMERS: CM

Chief minister Amarinder Singh said his government was prepared to consider 100% subsidy for groups of poor farmers of the Kandi area for fencing their fields against stray animals.

The CM, while intervening on the issue of damage to crops caused by stray animals, said the state government was seized of the matter and was making allout efforts to protect farmers’ crops. In response to AAP MLA Jai Krishan Singh Rori’s question regarding steps taken to protect the crops, he said the government was already providing 50% subsidy to farmers for fencing their fields and a pilot project had been launched last year under which total subsidy to the tune of ₹4.21 crore was given to 563 farmers in the ‘kandi’ belt.

Rori asked about poor farmers who were unable to shell out their share of cost, while Kharar MLA Kanwar Sandhu said instead of individual farmer’s fields, the government should consider fencing entire villages. The CM said the government will consider the proposal to allow subsidy for groups of poor farmers.

Cheema did not pay heed to my requests... He refused to demand a longer session to discuss the crucial issues concerning the state PARMINDER SINGH DHINDSA, former SAD minister