Punjab Newspaper

A deputation led by Mrs. Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, CLP leader, consisting of S. Sukhpal Singh Khaira MLA, S. Harminder Singh Jassi MLA, Sh. Luv Kumar Goldy MLA and Sh. A.C Kaushik Office Secy. CLP (Photographs attached alongwith) today met the Hon’ble Speaker S. Nirmal Singh Kahlon in his office chamber at the Vidhan Sabha. Following is the text of a petition signed by 16 Congress MLAs (List attached alongwith) seeking the interference of the Speaker towards illegalities being committed by the ruling SAD-BJP Govt.

To,                                                                                                                        22-10-2008
S. Nirmal Singh Kahlon
Hon’ble Speaker
Vidhan Sabha

Subject: Petition for appropriate action against breach of privilege and infringements of the rights of elected members of the Vidhan Sabha

Dear Sir,
Through this petition, we wish to bring to your notice an important issue of continuous breach of privilege and infringements of rights of the elected members of this August House by the defeated candidates so called Halqa –in-charges in the constituencies of opposition members with the active support of government machinery by ignoring the elected representatives of the people. This is not the case of ruling party MLA’s and they are fully associated with the developmental works, disbursement of grants etc.
The present SAD-BJP Govt. has adopted an unprincipled methodology of bypassing and ignoring the elected members of the opposition in their respective constituencies. The ruling party has nominated as ‘Halqa’ or constituency incharges those SAD-BJP candidates who were defeated in the assembly elections and through these persons the Govt. has preferred to get all developmental works done. These ‘Halqa’ incharges have taken upon themselves the duties of elected representatives. All foundation stones, inauguration of important projects, distribution of cheques for development works, recommendations for transfers of Govt. employees etc. is being undertaken by these SAD-BJP defeated candidates or ‘Halqa’ incharges as they have come to be known. By doing so the present Govt. is violating all laid down norms of legal and constitutional working.
The Chief Minister has abdicated his authority to his son Sh. Sukhbir Singh Badal MP Faridkot, who has being laying foundation stones throughout the state, of those important projects which are supposed to be the constitutional authority of the Chief Minister. Ministers of various departments have become mute and meek spectators of these gross violations indulged in by Sh. Sukhbir Singh Badal. By doing so Sh. Sukhbir Singh Badal is acting like a de-facto Chief Minister, reminding us of the days of the medieval India when dynasties ruled the country.
Acting on the lines of Sh. Sukhbir Singh Badal these so called ‘Halqa’ incharges are also infringing on the rights of elected members of the house, thereby causing breach of privilege of the members. To quote one specific example, we are attaching as annexure-P1 the press clipping and photograph of a foundation stone of a ‘Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojna’ (PMGSY) at village Nadala, part of Bholath Assembly constituency. The defeated candidate of SAD-BJP Bibi Jagir Kaur not only inaugurated the road project, her name is inscribed even above the name of Hon’ble Deputy Speaker Sh. Charanjit Singh Atwal, the sitting MP of the constituency. It is known that Bibi Jagir Kaur holds no official authority or position, yet she inaugurated a road project of central Govt. and none less than the Prime Minister’s Scheme, by doing so the rights of our elected Bholath MLA S. Sukhpal Singh Khaira have been infringed causing breach of privilege of the member. More details of the unconstitutional and illegal working by the said defeated candidate in Bholath constituency are also attached alongwith as annexures-P1-P10. The entire district administration including the Deputy Commissioner are a party to the new illegal and unconstitutional mechanism of the present Govt. Many more glaring instances of such violations being committed by various ‘Halqa’ incharges can be given throughout the state.
Since you are the custodian of the August House of Vidhan Sabha, we  elected members of the opposition, request your honour to take serious note of these unconstitutional methods being adopted and refer this issue to the Privilege Committee of Punjab Vidhan Sabha to summon the Chief Secretary to the Government of Punjab. That the Govt. must involve all elected representatives in the day to day functioning of the Govt. and that nomenclature such as ‘Halqa’ incharges be done away with immediately.
We hope you would ensure justice to the members of the 13th Vidhan Sabha, being the protector of their rights.
Thanking you
With Regards
1)      Sukhpal Singh Khaira MLA Bholath
2)      Jeet Mohinder Singh Sidhu MLA Talwandi Sabo
3)      Ajitinder Singh Mofar MLA Sardoolgarh
4)      Avtar Singh Brar MLA Faridkot
5)      Darshan Singh Brar MLA Bagha Purana
6)      Balbir Singh Sidhu MLA Kharar
7)      Makhan Singh MLA Pacca Kalan
8)      Ishar Singh MLA Koomkalan
9)      Ajit Singh Shant MLA Nihalsingh Wala
10)  Harmohinder Singh Pradhan MLA Raikot
11)  Mangat Rai Bansal MLA Budhlada
12)  Brahm Mohindra MLA Samana
13)  Sadhu Singh Dharamsot MLA Amloh
14)  Lal Singh MLA Dakala
15)  Harminder Singh Jassi MLA Bathinda
16)  Luv Kumar Goldy MLA Garh Shankar

And all other members of the CLP.