From January 1, 2018, onwards, all Punjab MLAs will have to make public the details of their immovable properties every year. But that was not enough for the main Opposition Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) which wanted the MLAs and Ministers to also declare their business interests and appointment of an Ethics Commissioner.
Besides, the party also demanded that those MLAs, who were elevated as the Ministers, should hand over their shares, if any, to a blind trust.
However, the amendments proposed by AAP MLA from Kharar Kanwar Sandhu in the Punjab Legislative Assembly (Salaries and Allowances of Members) Amendment Bill, 2017, were not included as the assembly passed the same.
The Speaker Rana KP Singh said that the amendments, suggested by Sandhu, were not sent two-day prior as the Rules prescribed. Sandhu argued that he got the copy of the Bill on a day prior and the amendments were sent to the Speaker’s office within two hours.
Demanding to postpone the Bill and introduce with suggested amendments in the next session, Sandhu also questioned the government about the bill on ‘Conflict of Interest’ and repealing of ‘Lokpal Bill’ as was promised in the Congress poll manifesto. He also demanded that the Congress should also bring whistle-blowers’ safety bill as promised by the Congress.
Speaking on the Bill moved by the Parliamentary Affairs Minister Brahm Mohindra, Sandhu said: “It is a good move but this is not enough. The government should also bring the Conflict of Interest Bill, as promised in the manifesto, to unseat the minister or MLAs if found having conflict of interests.”
“There are many ministers an MLAs who have their business interests as many have liquor vends, having mining contracts directly or indirectly, some own sugar mills, while some run private transports companies,” said Sandhu without naming anyone.
BJP MLA Som Prakash sought re-drafting of the Bill pointing that the return was to be filed only on January 1. “If somebody cannot declare immovable assets on January 1 because of some emergency or some urgent work, what will one do in that case,” he sought clarification from the government.
The House also passed the Indian Stamp (Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2017 replacing an ordinance issued earlier.
PROVIDE BILLS’ COPY TO MEMBER ON TIME: SPEAKER TO MINister
Speaker Rana KP Singh has directed the Parliamentary Affairs Minister Brahm Mohindra to provide copies of the bill well on time to the Opposition leaders.
The instructions came after the AAP MLAs HS Phoolka and Kanwar Sandhu pointed that the MLAs could not get enough time to peruse it to propose amendments.
“When bill is not provided on time or informed about it in advance, how can the members move amendments two day prior…the bills should be provided as per proper procedure,” said Phoolka.