M A I N   N E W S

SAD to boycott Governor’s Address
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 13
The SAD has decided to stage a walkout from the Punjab Vidhan Sabha tomorrow afternoon when the Governor, Lt-Gen. J.F.R. Jacob (retd.), delivers his Address at the start of the Budget Session.

This was reportedly decided at a meeting of the party’s Political Affairs Committee held at the residence of the SAD President Parkash Singh Badal here today. This was later endorsed at a meeting of the SAD Legislature Party.

Sources told TNS that there were some muted voices against staging a walkout during the Governor’s Address, which tantamount to insult to the constitutional head but these were muffled by the cheer leaders in the party who felt that such a step would make an impact.

It is also learnt that in the wake of the bitter experience SAD leaders, including former ministers, have had at the hands of the Congress government in the past one year, it was felt that the party must adopt an “aggressive” posture and pay the Congress back in the same coin by following its policy of political ‘’confrontation’’ with the Opposition.

The MLAs also aired their grievances and listed some of the burning issues to be raised in the House.

The subject dear to the Akalis, “plight of farmers” and incidents of firing on them in Amritsar district and their agitation in Chandigarh and Patiala would also find an echo in the House.

The Congress Legislature party is meeting here tomorrow morning to devise a strategy to counter the Opposition onslaught.