Unruly scenes in Punjab Assembly over Amritsar train tragedy

Press Trust of India  |  Chandigarh 

The Assembly witnessed unruly scenes on Monday between members of ruling and the Akali-BJP over the train accident last year where 60 people died.

Majithia accused the of cheating with families of the victims by not providing them government jobs that were promised to them.

Intervening in the matter, Navjot Sidhu, in whose constituency the accident had occurred, took on Majithia and claimed that he had been supporting eight families of victims by giving each of them Rs 8,000 per month from his own pocket.

Sidhu asked the Akalis whether they had ever given compensation to any victim out of their own pockets.

chief asked the government whether there had been any arrest in the train accident so far, leading to heated exchanges between members of the with the and the

Replying to the president, said it was the government's job to take care of the families of the victims. "It was your (Sukhbir) question was anybody arrested? Let me ask you one thing... there have been so many incidents wherein several people died involving Orbit (owned by Badal family) buses. Anybody was arrested?" Singh asked.

Badal said all the drivers of those buses were arrested. Then, the Akalis rushed to the well of the House and raised slogans against the government, following which they staged a walkout.

Taking a dig at Badal, demanded that the owners of such buses should also be arrested.

Meanwhile, the assured the House of all possible measures to check noise pollution, including strict action against the violators.

Reiterating his government's commitment to provide students with a congenial environment to study, Singh promised strict action against those who violate pollution norms by using of loudspeakers, DJ and other musical instruments, especially before and during examination days of the students.

Meanwhile, the assembly passed the Appropriation Bill, Punjab One-Time Voluntary Disclosure and Settlement of of the Buildings Constructed in Violation of the Building Bye-laws Bill; Walled City (Recognition of Usage) Amendment Bill, (Salaries and Allowances of Members) Amendment Bill and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2019.

When the bill regarding the salaries and allowances was presented, the members stormed to the well of the House, seeking inclusion of movable properties in the bill.

The bill will make all the members to declare their immovable properties in the month of January of every calendar year.

Earlier, the members staged a walkout protest against not being allowed to speak on demands for grants relating to budget estimates.

Later, the House was adjourned sine die.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

First Published: Mon, February 25 2019. 22:45 IST