Pegging it at a whopping Rs 2,000-crore scam, the Opposition Congress on Wednesday stalled proceedings of the Punjab Assembly alleging largescale bungling in distribution of kerosene.
Soon after the Zero Hour began, Congress MLA Sunil Jakhar — who led the Opposition charge on the floor of the House — said he had brought 10,000 affidavits collected from poor families, who were not getting fuel. He demanded an adjournment motion over the issue, which had been earlier denied by Speaker Nirmal Singh Kahlon as “neither a recent occurrence nor a specific issue”.
However, Jakhar reiterated that since it was the last session before the Assembly polls and kerosene diversion was a public issue of grave importance, the motion be allowed. “What is the definition of specific on which grounds an adjournment motion is not being allowed? We have definite allegation on the PDS system. Punjab lifts over 22 crore litres of kerosene every year. Nearly 20 lakh families which do not have a gas connection are entitled to get it.
But where is the kerosene going? Just through a random survey across the state, we have collected 10,000 affidavits. If my affidavits are false, put me behind bars like Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi has done with police officer Sanjeev Bhatt,” Jakhar said. But the Speaker declined to concede to the Opposition’s demand, following which, Congress MLAs stormed to the well of the House raising anti-government slogans. Amid the din, state Food and Civil Supplies Minister Paratap Singh Kairon rose to reply to the allegations.
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