Minister’s remark against Kejriwal govt draws protest
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) legislators staged a protest in the Punjab assembly on Wednesday after transport minister Aruna Chaudhary accused the Delhi government of “favouring” private bus operators from the state in the national capital.
Chaudhary, while replying to a query on starting a bus service from Bhattalan village to Barnala, alleged that the Delhi government in collusion with private transporters was allowing only private buses from the state to ply to the airport, but had stopped Punjab roadways buses. “Haathi ke daant khane ke aur, dikhane ke aur,” she said, taking a dig at the AAP leadership.
Her remarks came during the Question Hour after Lok Insaaf Party (LIP) MLA Simarjeet Bains raised the issue of challaning of roadways buses in Delhi whereas private buses owned by a political family were being allowed to ply between Punjab and the city airport. The AAP legislators started protesting, asking the minister to withdraw her allegations.
Sunam MLA Aman Arora said the Badals were flourishing under the patronage of the Congress government but the minister was wrongly accusing the AAP of colluding with leaders of the SAD. The AAP members rushed to the well of the House.
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 Steel Chamber of Commerce and Industry .
Not satisfied with the response, Nabha asked the minister to specify the time frame for releasing funds. While the minister avoided a direct reply, the MLA did not give up and pressed his demand, prompting SAD MLA Bikram Majithia to remark that he (Nabha) was a ruling party legislator. When the speaker asked him to specify the period, Arora said he would do the needful within six months from the day the proposal was received.
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.