Punjab: Mann govt to move SC against Guv; assembly session cut short
- October 21, 2023
- Updated: 12:58 am
category Regional, chandigarh, , tags Regional, chandigarh, , DW BUREAU Chandigarh The two-day Punjab assembly session was cut short on its first day Friday with the AAP government announcing it would move the Supreme Court against the governor for not approving the three Bills that were to be tabled in the House. Governor Banwarilal Purohit had termed the session illegal and withheld his approval to the revenue-related Bills, escalating the tussle between him and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. In the House, Mann attacked the governor calling him laat sahab once and telling him that he is behaving as if Punjab is under Governor s Rule or like he is the lieutenant governor of Delhi. Expressing displeasure over the situation, Mann urged Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan to adjourn the House sine die and said his government will move the apex court on October 30 against the governor over the issue. The motion to adjourn the House was moved by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Balkar Singh and was passed by the assembly. This is the second time this year that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government will move the Supreme Court over differences with the governor on summoning an assembly session. The surprise announcement by Mann came even after the speaker asserted that the session was legal. Mann slammed Purohit for raising questions over the legality of the session called by his government and asked, in a democracy, when we have been elected by the people, then why can t we decide . He alleged that non-BJP ruled states such as Kerala, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, are also witnessing governor-state government tussles. Opposition parties should come together on this issue, the chief minister said. Mann said the session can be of two days or 20 days, but one should not suspect its legality. Speaker sahab, I do not want this every day fight (with the governor) to escalate further, Mann said and urged the speaker to adjourn the assembly sine die. I request you that we will not table any Bill till we ensure Punjabis that this session is legal and the governor will have to give approval to all Bills and also sign them afterwards, he said and added that we will knock the door of the Supreme Court in the coming days . The chief minister said that he knows that in the Supreme Court, such (governor s) letters do not stand , and added that his government will move the top court on October 30. (editor dailyworld.in)