Chandigarh, April 12
Is the discussion on the Motion of Thanks on the Governor’s Address at the fag end of the Budget session a mere academic exercise?
The question was raised by Mr Sucha Singh Chhotepur (Independent) as the discussion on the Motion of Thanks resumed today with members of both the Treasury Benches and the Opposition raising objections to the absence of members of the Council of Ministers, including the Chief Minister, and civil servants from the House.
Conventionally, relevant and important suggestions made by the members during the discussion on the Motion of Thanks should be incorporated in the budgetary proposals, said Mr Chhotepur, holding that now when the Budget had been passed, the House would adjourn sine die after approving the Motion of Thanks. Thus, no useful purpose would be served.
He was joined by Mr Vir Singh Lopoke of the Shiromani Akali Dal who also said that the Motion of Thanks should have come up before the budgetary proposals were presented in the House. Dr Raj Kumar Verka from the Treasury Benches, however, not only expressed his anguish over the absence of the Chief Minister from the House during the discussion but also rued the apathy of the state towards the plight of the downtrodden in general and the Dalits in particular.
Mr Balwinder Singh Bhunder of the Shiromani Akali Dal pointed towards the nearly-empty Treasury Benches as well as the officers’ gallery, saying that this reflected their interest in the motion. The Deputy Speaker, Mr Darbari Lal, pointed out that the Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Ch Jagjit Singh, was taking notes on the points raised by members.
At that time, perhaps, one or two officers were present. When Ch Jagjit Singh went out, the responsibility of taking notes was given to Ms Gurkanwal Kaur. Later, more members returned to the Treasury Benches. They included the Health Minister, Mr R.C. Dogra, and the Revenue Minister, Mr A.S. Samra. And the officers’ gallery, too, had some faces — Mr V.N. Ojha, Mr S.C. Aggarwal, Mr J.R. Kundal and Mr D.S. Bains — to show during the latter half of the day.
At the end of the day, the responsibility of conducting the House fell on Mr Chhotepur as both the Speaker, Dr Kewal Krishan, and his Deputy left.
After question hour and zero hour, when the discussion on the motion resumed, Mr Jagdish Singh Garcha continued his tirade regarding the irregularities in the excise auctions before the Speaker interrupted him. In spite of a protest from Mr Bhunder, Mr Garcha could not make his concluding remarks as the Speaker had asked Mr Jugal Kishore to speak.
