Thaindian News

Chandigarh, Dec 11 (IANS) The winter session of the Punjab assembly ended here Friday with the opposition Congress boycotting its proceedings.
Congress legislators, demanding resignation of assembly speaker Nirmal Singh Kahlon, walked out of the assembly Friday and boycotted it. However, the assembly proceedings went on in the absence of the opposition.

“We strongly demand the resignation of Kahlon as his name has come up in the cash for job case. The Akali government is delaying its sanction for his prosecution,” senior Congress leader Rajinder Kaur Bhattal said here Friday.

All the four days of the assembly session did not see any substantial business. The first day of the session was devoted to obituary references while the second day Tuesday witnessed a free-for-all with ruling Akali Dal and opposition Congress members coming to blows inside the house.

The third day Thursday was also marked by disorder as the house was adjourned for one hour after members exchanged heated arguments.

The Congress members were criticising a senior Akali leader (Kahlon) whose name allegedly figured in a scam during the Akali Dal’s previous tenure in the state from 1996 to 2001.

The assembly had to take up the issue of salaries of present legislators and pensions of former legislators. But nothing much was worked out in these four days and these matters were deferred till the next session.