On Day 1, AAP lies low, says waiting for ‘appropriate time’
CHANDIGARH:On the opening day of the budget session in the Punjab assembly, the MLAs of Aam aadmi party (AAP) – the principal opposition party — sat quiet in the House listening to governor VPS Badnore’s address.
It seems they were still to chalk out their strategy for the session, as leader of opposition Harpal Singh Cheema belonging to AAP said, “We will speak at an appropriate time”.
“First it was the Congress during the Akali-BJP government and now it’s the Akalis and BJP indulging in same tactics to befool people. It will make no difference,” Cheema added.
The members of the treasury benches led by the CM Capt. Amarinder Singh flanked by the cabinet ministers sat confident in the house. The treasury benches remained packed during both the sitting on the first day’s session.
Former chief minister Parkash Singh Badal and Bikram Singh Majithia reached the house in the second sitting when the speaker read out obituary references.
There was no exchange of glances between Amarinder and Badal, though during the break after first sitting the Congress MLAs were seen mingling with the AAP MLAs.
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and its coalition partner Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday came with a strategy to corner the Capt Amarinder Singh government inside and outside the assembly.
To make an impact, SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal and his father Parkash Singh Badal also reached to join the protest organised by Bikram Singh Majithia-led Youth Akali Dal (YAD), when governor VP Singh Badnore was delivering his speech.
A group of Akali legislators led by the former finance minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa led the protest inside the house.
In the business advisory committee (BAC) meeting chaired by the speaker Rana KP Singh, MLAs of the Akali Dal and the BJP put up an aggressive posture demanding increase in number of sittings during the session.
The speaker was yet to act, asked the Akali legislators to ensure smooth conduct of the House proceedings.