Decision on Khaira’s membership after publication of notice, says speaker
CHANDIGARH : Punjab Vidhan Sabha speaker Rana KP Singh on Friday said he will take a decision on the Aam Aadmi Party’s plea for disqualification of Bholath MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira as per the law after the publication of notice in this regard.
Rana KP said a notice was sent to Khaira but it was not accepted. “We will now publish the notice. I will decide the issue (disqualification under the anti-defection law) as per the law thereafter,” he said in the House after the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) raised the issue of resignation of three AAP MLAS from the primary membership of the party.
The three MLAS – Khaira, HS Phoolka (Dakha) and Baldev Singh (Jaitu) – have resigned from the primary membership of the AAP in the past two months, with Phoolka tendering his resignation from the membership of the state assembly as well. Last month, AAP legislature party leader Harpal Singh Cheema also wrote to the speaker for Khaira’s disqualification from membership of the state assembly for resigning from the party on whose ticket he was elected. Khaira has set up his Punjab Ekta Party.
During the Zero Hour, Akali MLAS Parminder Singh Dhindsa and Bikram Singh Majithia raised the issue of their resignations, asking the speaker about the status of the three legislators. The speaker said he will seek legal opinion on Phoolka’s resignation.
“I informed the member that his resignation was not as per the format, but he had a different view. I am sending it for legal opinion,” he said.
However, Majithia said the three legislators had quit primary membership of their party but were still members of the House. “They are continuing in violation of the Constitution. This is misuse of public money,” he said, seeking action.
Rana KP said the issue was in his domain. “If anyone has any problem, he is free to seek legal recourse,” he added. Khaira has been absent from the ongoing budget session. Phoolka has been coming to the House, and Akali Dal members have been raising questions about his presence.