Chandigarh: The first day of the two-day special session of the Punjab assembly, called in view of the farmers’ agitation against the Narendra Modi government’s three new agricultural laws, saw dramatic scenes at the Vidhan Sabha Monday.
MLAs of the ruling Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal arrived at the Vidhan Sabha on tractors as a symbol of solidarity with the farmers, while Aam Aadmi Party MLAs came dressed in black overalls and burnt copies of the three Acts outside the assembly before the session began.
The farmers have been agitating against the three central farm bills (now Acts) for over two months, demanding their revocation by the Centre. A legislation to counter the laws is expected to be brought in to the Punjab assembly Tuesday.
However, after the session was adjourned for the day, AAP MLAs started an indefinite dharna inside the assembly hall, demanding a copy of the proposed legislation from the Speaker before it is brought in Tuesday. The AAP MLAs have decided to sit inside the assembly hall through the night if their demand is not met.
The Akalis too have sat on an indefinite dharna outside Punjab Bhawan, which had been declared as an extension of the Vidhan Sabha for the purpose of the two-day session. The Akalis are also demanding a copy of the proposed legislation.
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What happened in the assembly
The actual session lasted barely half an hour on Day One, with most of the action taking place outside.
During the obituary references, Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh led the House in paying homage to the farmers who have lost their lives during the agitation. These references were not in the original list, but were added on Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal’s request.
Badal also got the name of Shaurya Chakra awardee Balwinder Singh Sandhu added to the obituary references. Sandhu, who had fought the militancy in Punjab, was killed last week by unidentified assailants outside his house in Bhikiwind.
The House was then adjourned for an hour, and when it resumed, the Speaker announced the official business for the day. However, the Akalis then came to the well of the House, saying no other official work be carried out apart from a discussion on farmers’ issues. The AAP MLAs too got up from their seats and demanded a copy of the proposed legislation.
After 25 minutes of ruckus, the Speaker adjourned the session for the day.
“The special assembly session has been called for discussion on the singular topic of the farmers’ agitation and the three central Acts. This session cannot be treated like the other routine sessions of the assembly,” SAD MLA Bikram Singh Majithia told the media.
“The issue of farmers is the most important for Punjab and to include it as a subtext to the usual business of the session is an insult to the thousands of farmers protesting on the streets across the state,” he said.
AAP MLA Aman Arora added: “We wanted an all-party seminar before the session, in which farmers would participate and brainstorm. But the Congress is working in the most non-transparent manner. We will not get up from here till we get a copy of the proposed legislation.”
The previous day, CM Amarinder had called for a frontal attack against the central farm legislations, and was authorised by his council of ministers to take any legislative/legal decision he may deem fit to protect the interests of the farmers.
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