Presence of halqa incharge at public event no crime: Speaker

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab government may have been drawing flak over the powers enjoyed by the Shiromani Akali Dal’s (SAD) halqa incharge, but the Vidhan Sabha speaker on Monday justified the system.

“The presence of halqa incharge at a public function is no crime,” said speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal when Cong ress MLA for m Dina Nagar Arun Chaudhary cited the recently held functions in various state-run government schools in her constituency.

According to Chaudhary, the functions were organised to distribute bicycles and uniforms to girl students and much importance was assigned to the halqa incharge belonging to the SAD while the MLA was ignored.

Reacting to the issue being raised by the Congress MLA during Question Hour, education minister Daljit Singh Cheema said anyone wanting to bless the students is welcome, be it the halqa incharge. “MLA saab is also welcome,” he said, following which the MLA asked the minister not to support “unconstitutional practices”.

Patiala MLA Preneet Kaur raised the issue of vacant posts of nurses at Rajindra Hospital in Patiala, to which minister for medical education and research Anil Joshi said the process of recruitment had begun. To another question raised by Congress MLA Ajitinder Singh Mofar, Joshi said he could not reply as to why the fee structure in private medical and dental colleges was higher than the government-run colleges.

‘SAVE WATER FROM GOING INTO HANSI BHUTANA CANAL’

Former finance minister Lal Singh, in a call attention motion, asked the ruling alliance to save Punjab waters from going into the Hansi Bhutana canal. “The state government has no plan to save the state’s water; the Bhakra main line (BML) canal flows close to the Hansi Bhutana canal dug up by Haryana and it would require just a half-day’s job to merge the BML with the Hansi Bhutana canal as it passed from only metres away,” he said. The case of Hansi Bhutana canal is under the consideration of the Supreme Court.

‘GIVE ` 716 CR TO FARMERS FOR WHEAT LOSS’

Former leader of opposition Sunil Jakhar reminded the ruling alliance to pay Rs 716 crore sought from the Centre when untimely rains last year damaged the wheat crop. “After the crop suffers damage, the government is quick to order girdawari and seek compensation from the Centre but the amount neither comes from the Centre nor is distributed.