CM’s resolution criticising boycott of leaders passed

Sushil Manav
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, March 15

The Assembly on Monday passed a resolution condemning the boycott of BJP and JJP leaders across the state in view of the ongoing farmers' protest. The House called the act a "murder of democracy" and a "dangerous trend" that was against the principle of democracy.

The resolution was moved by Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, who claimed that some Congress leaders were behind those instigating people to give boycott calls. Congress MLAs led by Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda staged a walkout when the resolution was passed.

SAD MLAs' move 'premeditated'

• Speaker Gian Chand Gupta told the House that Punjab MLAs who had heckled CM Manohar Lal Khattar did it under a premeditated move as they were expelled from the House that day, but stayed back even after adjournment
• He said the SAD MLAs rushed towards Khattar as he emerged from the gate and took out black flags before approaching him
• Terming this as an attempt to attack Khattar, Gupta said a complaint had been lodged with the police

Khattar raised the issue of boycott of BJP and JJP leaders after Ambala City MLA Aseem Goel told the House that people had demonstrated outside his residence after his speech in the Assembly on the no-confidence motion.

"They used filthy language which they would not like to listen in the presence of their family members," he said. Goel accused the Congress of instigating those responsible for the demonstration outside his house even as Congress MLAs, led by former Speaker Raghubir Singh Kadian, objected to the allegation.

At this point, Khattar proposed that the House should move a resolution condemning any act of boycotting political leaders. The proposal was strongly opposed by Congress MLAs.

"I will like to clarify on the floor of the House that nobody from my party is instigating people to boycott any political leader. We are supporting farmers on their demands, but this does not mean that we are instigating them, " said Hooda.

He said if Goel or any other political leader had been wronged, he should lodge an FIR and the law would take its course, but there was no need to pass such a resolution.

An argument ensued, which saw ministers Kanwar Pal Gujjar, Ranjit Singh Chautala and JP Dalal from the ruling party and Hooda, Kiran Choudhry, Kadian and Geeta Bhukkal from the Congress joining in.

A visibly angry Khattar said he did not want to name anyone, but several persons, including those from the Congress, had been instigating those boycotting political leaders.

"I want to repeat that our decency should not be taken as our weakness," Khattar said, adding boycott of political persons amounted to "murder of democracy" and was a "dangerous trend" that was against the principles of democracy.

from The Tribune https://ift.tt/38GEPxi