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Assembly in session
Debate disturbs ‘law and order’ in Punjab Assembly
House chaos: Congress’ Rana Gurjit expelled for abusing Revenue Minister Bikram Majithia
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 19
The Punjab Assembly today witnessed a new low with a discussion on law and order leading to slogan shouting, protests and finally an altercation after Congress legislator Rana Gurjit Singh got provoked by an allegation levelled by Revenue Minister Bikram Singh Majithia and moved towards him in a menacing manner.

Congress MLA Rana Gurjit Singh (L) makes a point in the media gallery at the Punjab Vidhan Sabha while CLP leader Sunil Jakhar looks on; Revenue Minister Bikram Singh Majithia explains his stand with Punjab Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal at his side. Tribune photos: Manoj Mahajan

The altercation could have taken an ugly turn had members from both sides not intervened. Rana Gurjit was seen mouthing expletives while moving towards Majithia from the Well of the House where Congressmen were raising slogans against the Revenue Minister. Majithia also reacted angrily but did not move from his seat, thus averting a clash.

Even as some members from both sides tried to soothe tempers, Speaker Charanjit Singh Altwal adjourned the House for 30 minutes. When the House reassembled, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal alleged the Congress had disrupted the proceedings as part of its plan to run away from the debate after their legislature party leader Sunil Jakhar had said his bit.

The SAD president insisted that Rana Gurjit should apologise or be expelled from the House. The Congress had let down House conventions by first insisting that it would not let Majithia speak and then calling him a “murderer”, he said. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Madan Mohan Mittal moved a resolution urging Rana to apologise or face expulsion. When it became apparent that Rana was in no mood to apologise, the Speaker announced his expulsion for the ongoing Assembly session.

Immediately afterwards, the action shifted to outside the House with the Congress and SAD leaders addressing the media separately. Jakhar claimed the Congress members objected to Majithia’s speech when he started becoming personal and began levelling false objections against party members.

THE UGLY SCENE A discussion on law and order was going on in the Assembly The Revenue Minister allegedly levelled an allegation against Rana Gurjit This provoked the Cong MLA who moved towards Majithia mouthing expletives Timely intervention by members from both sides saved the situation As Rana did not apologise for mouthing expletives, he was expelled from the House for the remaining session

Rana Gurjit said he was surprised when Majithia linked his name with Hardeep Chadha firing case accused Sukhdev Singh Namdhari besides claiming he had procured 20 arms licences on one address in Kapurthala. Rana said he was going to raise a point by proceeding towards his seat, but when Majithia adopted an aggressive posture, he retorted in the same way. He denied abusing Majithia. He said he had not recommended Namdhari’s name for acquisition of any weapon.

Majithia claimed he was making a point against Rana Gurjit and other Congress MLAs, including OP Soni, who, he alleged, had harboured one of the accused in the ASI Ravinderpal Singh’s murder case, on the basis of facts. (Soni has rejected this allegation).He claimed Rana left his chair and proceeded towards him uttering abuses with raised hands. He denied that he had abused Rana.

The Congress has announced boycott of the current session to express solidarity with Rana. Jakhar said the Speaker had acted in a partial manner by not taking action against Majithia who had abused Rana. Congress members would “gherao” his chamber tomorrow, he added. He also demanded immediate dismissal of Majithia, saying the latter was responsible for the current state of the law and order situation in the state.