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regular-article-logo Saturday, 27 July 2024

Opposition Congress MLAs raise farmers' issue, disrupt Punjab governor Banwarilal Purohit's speech in Assembly

Amid the uproar, Purohit read out a few lines from his address and told the House that the rest of it be treated as read

PTI Chandigarh Published 01.03.24, 12:51 PM
Banwarilal Purohit

Banwarilal Purohit File picture

Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit's address to the State Assembly on the opening day of the Budget session on Friday was disrupted by the opposition Congress MLAs who raised the issues of the protesting farmers and resorted to sloganeering.

Amid the uproar, Purohit read out a few lines from his address and told the House that the rest of it be treated as read.

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As soon as the governor began delivering his address, Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring raised the farmers' issue and said that homage should be paid to Shubhkaran Singh, who died during clashes between the protesting farmers and Haryana security personnel. "It will be good if the governor pays homage to the deceased young farmer," Warring said.

Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa said that Haryana has sealed its borders with Punjab. "You have not been able to protect your farmers," he said, drawing the Punjab Governor's attention on the matter.

As the Congress members insisted that farmers' issues be discussed first, the governor said, "I will request the leader of the opposition that you have ample time to discuss these things. As per the agenda and custom, I am supposed to deliver my speech. After my speech, you can raise any issue." "There might be so many serious questions. I agree. But this is the time to deliver my speech. Why you are obstructing? This is not fair. I request you, this house is for debate, you will get ample time," Purohit said.

The Assembly speaker also requested the Congress MLAs to let the governor complete his address.

However, the Congress members kept raising slogans against the Centre, the AAP dispensation in Punjab as well as the Haryana government on the farmers' issue. They also sought the registration of an FIR against Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij for alleged "atrocities" against the protesting farmers.

At this, the governor said, "In this situation, it is difficult for me to deliver the speech. As per the rules, I am reading out the first line. This speech may be treated as read." While condemning the Haryana Police action against protesting farmers, the Congress MLAs of Punjab also sought registration of FIRs in injuries to farmers during clashes with the Haryana security personnel.

The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) are spearheading the 'Delhi Chalo' march to press the government to accept their demands, including a legal guarantee of MSP for crops and a farm loan waiver.

Farmer Shubhkaran (21), was killed and 12 police personnel injured in clashes at Khanauri border point on the Punjab-Haryana border on February 21. The incident took place when some protesting farmers were trying to head towards barricades.

Shubhkaran's mortal remains were consigned to flames at his native place in Punjab's Bathinda district on Thursday.

Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by The Telegraph Online staff and has been published from a syndicated feed.

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