In Brief

False start
It was Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal’s maiden speech in the Punjab Assembly as an elected member and he chose to make a ‘suo moto’ statement on the law and order situation in the state. He continued reading out his statement even as Opposition members thronged the well of the house and proceeded towards the chair of the Speaker. Akali MLAs rose from their chairs soon after Sukhbir finished reading and matched the combative skills of Congress MLAs in the turban-for-turban scuffle.

In the gallery
The press and visitors’ galleries were jampacked when the unruly incidents were taking place in the House. Among the prominent leaders watching the proceedings were former MP Simranjit Singh Mann and former MLAs Balwinder Singh Bhunder and Tota Singh. Government secretaries in the officers’ gallery wore an amused expression throughout the unfettered fight among their political bosses.

Salary hike can wait
The one cause which had united legislators across party lines during the earlier session — hike in pay and perks of MLAs — could not come up for discussion due to the ruckus. When his other persuasions failed to pacify Congress legislators,Speaker Nirmal Singh Kahlon reminded them that the salary hike bill was part of the legislative business of the House for the day,but they seemed more bothered about landing blows than pocketing fatter pay cheques; at least at that moment.

Talking of prestige…
While members of both the parties later alleged that their turbans were pulled down,which had hurt their pride,none spoke on how the prestige of the House was actually compromised.