From ‘bambookat’ to chuckles: Punjab assembly unplugged

Ajnala MLA Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal said Bajwa used it for a photo-op, sparking an immediate reaction from LoP, who asked Dhaliwal if he had carried him on his shoulders to the flood affected areas.

Later, Finance Minister Harpal Cheema too poked fun at Bajwa, who then said that the vehicle was used to reach the victims of floods. The vehicle, he said, “being called bambookat” was also put to use by the Deputy Commissioner of Amritsar who had deployed four of these vehicles that were used by the leaders and officers alike,” Bajwa said.

This did not end there. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann too took a dig at Bajwa saying some leaders found an opportunity in the floods to climb up a ‘Jonga.’

‘INVISIBLE’ KRISHAN KUMAR

Principal Secretary (Water Resources) Krishan Kumar remained on the hit list of LoP Bajwa and Congress member Barindermeet Singh Pahda.

While Bajwa demanded suspension of Kumar for floods in the state, Pahda asked why no action was taken against him. Bajwa could not see Kumar in the officers’ gallery in the House as he was seated in the last row and raised questions on his absence even as the Vidhan Sabha was discussing floods.

The seating arrangements in the officers’ gallery are such that the first four rows of chairs are in a box on raised platform, which is at least three feet higher than the last row. Senior officers usually sit in the first four rows. Those seated on the last row are often not visible from the floor of the House.

It was probably due to this that CM Mann came to Kumar’s rescue. He told the Opposition, “You should not demoralise the hardworking officers. It is better that you launch your attack on us.”

SUKHPAL KHAIRA MISSING

Congress legislator Sukhpal Khaira was conspicuous by his absence from the Assembly Friday. Khaira has been alleging that he was on the radar of the Punjab Police as the government wanted to arrest him in a case of vendetta.

CM Mann had also said a few days ago that Khaira had gone into hiding. Khaira was, however, active on his social media asking the Speaker to introduce his private member’s Bill to protect the identity, language, culture and turban of Punjab.

SILENCE OF AMAN ARORA

Aam Aadmi Party state president Aman Arora, often dubbed as a man of many words, was conspicuous by his silence in the Vidhan Sabha. Arora did not even utter a single word on the mic despite attending the session throughout the day.

While the ruling party got three hours to speak on the ‘Rehabilitation of Punjab’ resolution, Arora did not speak on it. Arora was recently in news for his vehicle not being allowed to enter CM’s official residence during a Cabinet meeting when Mann was in the hospital.

Arora had a heated argument with Chief Secretary KAP Sinha the same day for his vehicle not being allowed inside.

GUFFAWS GALORE

It was a day of guffaws when CM Mann, flanked by Aman Arora on one side and independent MLA Rana Inder Partap Singh on the other, on the bench of the Leader of the House, were seen sharing laughter at a joke.

The trio was on the same bench, as the House was adjourned for 20 minutes. Rana Inder Partap is son of Congress member Rana Gurjit Singh. LoP Partap Bajwa and Rana Gurjit were also seen laughing their hearts out when AAP MLA Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal had started speaking on the floods.

Dhaliwal was earlier considered close to Bajwa before he had switched to AAP. Dhaliwal was earlier with the Congress.