SAD SEEKS CASE AGAINST CAPT, JAKHAR FOR FATHER-SON SUICIDE

CHANDIGARH : The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Tuesday demanded registration of a case against chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh, Punjab Congress president Sunil Jakhar and cooperation minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa in a debt-ridden father-son duo’s suicide in the state.

Raising the farm debt issue during the zero hour of the assembly on day two of the budget session, SAD MLA Bikram Singh Majithia said the farmer-son duo had committed suicide due to the failure of the state government to waive their farm loan.

The father-son duo of Mahadipur village of Hoshiarpur committed suicide last month by consuming poison to protest against the central government’s attitude on the farmers’ stir, besides blaming the Punjab government for not waiving their loan.

“The government as well as Congress should be held accountable for this,” he said. Accusing the Congress of cheating the farmers, he sought registration of case against the chief minister and Jakhar.

Maintain decorum of House: Sandhu

Kharar MLA Kanwar Sandhu stressed the need to maintain decorum of the House, drawing attention towards the sloganshouting and protests by members during the governor’s speech on the opening day of the session.

He said that copies of the governor’s address were torn, some members rode bicycles to travel to the state assembly and there were some other protests. “Is there no difference between what happens outside and inside the House? There should be decorum in the House. What are we trying to show?” said the suspended AAP legislator, pointing to newspaper headlines on Monday’s proceedings.

Demand for probe into Mohali land deal

Leader of opposition Harpal Singh Cheema also demanded a probe into the auction of 31 acres of prime land of a liquidated private firm, JCT, in Mohali (SAS Nagar) where the government had the first right. Calling it a scam, he said the land was sold to private companies for Rs 92 crore whereas its market worth was roughly Rs 400 crore.

There was involvement of some officers and dealers in this transaction and the state government needed to look into the matter, he demanded, raising the controversial land deal.