Tag: punjab CM

Opposition Says ‘Drunk’ Punjab CM Mann Deplaned at Frankfurt; AAP Rejects Charge

AAP chief spokesperson Malvinder Singh Kang called the allegations baseless and bogus, and accused the rival parties of indulging in propaganda to defame the chief minister.

Chandigarh: The Opposition on Monday claimed that Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann was deplaned from a Delhi-bound flight at the Frankfurt airport as he was “drunk”, a charge denied by the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) as baseless.

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal alleged that Mann was deplaned from the Lufthansa flight because he was in an inebriated state.

“Disturbing media reports quoting co-passengers say Pb CM @BhagwantMann was deplaned from Lufthansa flight as he was too drunk to walk. And it led to a 4-hour flight delay. He missed AAP’s national convention. These reports have embarrassed & shamed Punjabis all over the globe,” he tweeted.

However, AAP chief spokesperson Malvinder Singh Kang called the allegations baseless and bogus, and accused the rival parties of indulging in propaganda to defame the chief minister.

“The allegations are baseless, bogus and false,” Kang said and alleged that the opposition parties were spreading canards against the chief minister as they cannot digest the fact that he was working hard to get investments into the state.

Mann returned from his eight-day trip from Germany on Monday where he had gone to attract investments.

Badal, in another tweet, also expressed shock that the state government is silent over the issue.

“Shockingly, Pb govt is mum over these reports involving their CM @BhagwantMann @ArvindKejriwal needs to come clean on this issue. Govt of India must step in as this involves Punjabi & national pride. If he was deplaned, GoI must raise the issue with its German counterpart,” he said.

Congress leader and the leader of the opposition in the Punjab assembly, Partap Singh Badal sought an inquiry into the matter. He said if the reports about deplaning of Mann were right, it would be an embarrassment for the whole nation.

Arvind Kejriwal, Bhagwant Mann Slam Centre for Introducing Electricity Amendment Bill

Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann said the Bill is an attack on the constitutional rights of the states.

New Delhi: Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday termed the proposed amendments to the Electricity Act as “dangerous” and urged the Union government not to go ahead with it in haste, claiming that it will only benefit a few power distribution companies.

He said the Electricity Amendment Bill, 2022 will increase the suffering of the people as it will make problems associated with power supply and distribution more serious instead of addressing it.

The Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2022 to allow non-discriminatory open access to distribution networks of power suppliers was introduced in the Lok Sabha by the government on Monday amid protests by the opposition, which claimed that it seeks to take away certain rights of state governments.

“The Electricity Amendment Bill is being brought in Lok Sabha today. This law is very dangerous,” Kejriwal said in a tweet in Hindi.

“This will make the electricity problem more serious, instead of addressing it. People’s suffering will increase. Only a few companies will benefit. I appeal to the Centre to not bring this (Bill) in haste,” he added.

The AAP’s Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab Sandeep Pathak said it is “very unfortunate” that the Union government is going ahead with the Bill in the Lok Sabha after reneging on its own point.

“It is an attack on the rights of the state and also an attack on the federal structure of the country,” he charged in a tweet in Hindi.

He said the state has an equal right to make laws in the matters pertaining to electricity.

“But, the Union government has not sought the opinion of any state on this Bill,” he alleged.

“The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) opposes this,” he added.

Another AAP leader, Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann also slammed the move to introduce the Bill, saying it was an attack on the constitutional rights of the states. He accused the Union government of weakening the foundations of the federal structure through such “nefarious designs”.

He said the Union government should not consider the states as puppets. “The states will not sit silently against this attempt of the government of India to dilute the federal spirit of our democracy,” Mann said in a statement issued here.

The Union government should have consulted the states before introducing any Bill related to the power sector, the Punjab chief minister said.

“Instead, this Bill is being imposed on the states, which is a direct attack on the federal structure,” he charged.

Questioning the BJP-led government’s intent, Mann said when the states provide electricity to people on their own, then why their feedback was not sought before the Bill was introduced in parliament.

Citing the example of Punjab, he said farmers in the state are being given free electricity for agriculture purposes.

“Likewise, free power supply is also being provided to domestic consumers and if the Centre is amending the Electricity Act as per its own conditions, the farmers and other sections will get a big blow as states like Punjab will not be able to continue such pro-people initiatives,” he said.

It should not repeat the mistake of implementing the three farm laws, he added.

Several organisations have raised objections to the proposed amendments to the Electricity Act, 2003.

In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week, the All India Power Engineers Federation (AIPEF) chairman Shailendra Dubey sought his intervention in the matter and appealed to him to refer the bull to the Standing Committee of Parliament for a detailed discussion with all the stakeholders.

The Bill seeks to create competition in the power distribution (retail) segment. It proposes that a discom can use another power distribution licensee’s network.

The Bill also seeks to strengthen the payment security mechanism and give more powers to regulators.

“It has become necessary to strengthen the regulatory mechanism, adjudicatory mechanism in the Act and to bring administrative reforms through improved corporate governance of distribution licensees,” states the Bill.

“The continuing as well as new challenges of sustainability of the power sector, contract enforcement, payment security mechanism, energy transition and the need to provide choice (of multiple service providers) to consumers in order to promote competition and the like, it has become necessary to make certain amendments in the Electricity Act”, it says.

The Bill seeks to amend section 42 of the Act to facilitate non-discriminatory open access to the distribution network of a distribution licensee.

Further, the Bill seeks to amend section 14 of the Act to facilitate the use of distribution networks by all licensees under provisions of non-discriminatory open access with the objective of enabling competition, enhancing the efficiency of distribution licensees for improving services and ensuring the sustainability of the power sector.

On Sunday, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal had urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to withdraw the Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2022 to allow for widespread consultation with all stakeholders including the states, farmers and farm unions.

He had said when the Union government decided to repeal the three farm laws on December 9, 2021, it had assured that it would not go ahead with enacting the Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2022 without holding prior consultation with all stakeholders including the states, political parties, farmers and farmer associations.

(With PTI inputs)

Pakistan Govt to Move SC for Full Bench on Cases Related to Re-election of Punjab CM

Pakistan’s ruling coalition government is expected to file a petition in the top court for the formation of a full court bench to hear cases related to Article 63-A of the Constitution.

Islamabad: Pakistan’s ruling coalition government is expected to file a petition in the Supreme Court on Monday, July 25 for the formation of a full court bench to hear cases related to the interpretation of the Article 63-A of the Constitution and the contentious re-election of Hamza Shehbaz as the chief minister of Punjab province.

Article 63-A of the Constitution is related to the status of defecting lawmakers. Article 63-A was inserted into the Constitution with an intention of the authors to prevent horse-trading through the exercise of party discipline.

Hamza, the son of Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, on Saturday, July 23 took oath as the chief minister of the Punjab province, a day after he was re-elected to the post by just three votes amidst high drama when Deputy Speaker Dost Muhammad Mazari rejected 10 crucial votes of his rival candidate Chaudhry Parvez Elahi.

In the 368-member Punjab Assembly, Hamza’s Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) received 179 votes, while Elahi’s party garnered 176 votes.

Elahi, who was also backed by former premier Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, later moved the Supreme Court (SC), which allowed Hamza to remain as the trustee Punjab province Chief Minister till the hearing resumes on Monday but barred him from using his powers for political gains during this period.

Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial had also remarked that prima facie, the Deputy Speaker’s ruling was against the apex court’s verdict in the Article 63-A reference.

Also read: Pakistan: Ousted PM Imran Khan Seeks to Turn Provincial By-Elections Win Into a National Comeback

After the Supreme Court’s decision, the PML-N began publicly pushing for a full court bench and questioned the one-sidedness of the decision from a particular bench of the apex court.

The government alliance has now decided to formally move the apex court over the issue, the information minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said on Sunday.

The leaders of the alliance will go to the apex court on Monday with their lawyers to request the formation of a full court bench that jointly hears cases related to the election of Punjab’s chief minister, the Supreme Court Bar Association’s (SCBA) review petition of the SC’s opinion on Article 63-A and other related petitions.

The statement said the PPP, PML-N and Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl will go to the SC, while the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan, Balochistan National Party, Balochistan Awami Party and other allied parties will be among the petitioners as well.

“The lawyers of all the parties will argue in the Supreme Court on Article 63-A of the Constitution,” the statement said.

It comes a day after the ruling alliance issued a declaration, demanding that the chief justice of Pakistan constitute a full court to hear the petition against the Punjab chief minister’s election, calling it an important national, political and constitutional matter .

(PTI)

Badal’s Support for Article 370 Move Allowed BJP To Interfere With the Rights of Punjab: Channi

The Punjab chief minister stated that the SAD aided in the undermining of the federal structure of the country.

Jalandhar: Accusing Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal of undermining the federal structure of the country, Punjab chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Thursday, November 11, said that the BJP-RSS would not have dared to interfere with the rights of Punjab had Badal not supported the Union government in reading down Article 370 that gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir.

Channi said that it was through SAD that the BJP-RSS managed to make inroads in Punjab, which he said was inimical to the interests of the state. “When the RSS and BJP revoked Article 370, not only did the Akalis side with the BJP, but Sukhbir Singh Badal spoke in favour of the move,” he said.

Addressing the 16th session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, chief minister Channi, referring to information he obtained under the Right to Information (RTI) Act asked if Badal voted against the decision to read down Article 370 in parliament, when J&K’s rights were “stripped off”.

“He did not. The BJP would not have dared to interfere in the rights of Punjab. They would not have dared to meddle with the rights of J&K had Sukhbir Badal not supported them. They felt that the entire Sikh community was with the SAD and they could loot, beat and break Punjab,” he added.

The CM said that the SAD saw everything through the narrow prism of politics, even those issues that are important to Punjab such as the devolution of more powers to states; the transfer of Chandigarh to Punjab; and the Anandpur Sahib resolution.

These comments were made during a special assembly session that was called to pass a resolution against the Union government’s decision to extend the jurisdiction of the Border Security Force (BSF) from 15 km to 50 km inside the India-Pakistan border. The move has been described by the Punjab government as going against the spirit of federalism enshrined in the constitution.

Punjab’s deputy chief minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa moved the resolution, which was passed later that day.

Also read: High Drama as Punjab Assembly Passes Resolutions Against Centre’s BSF Move, Farm Laws

Commenting on Channi’s statement emphasising the need for a strong federal structure, Raunki Ram, professor of political science at Panjab University in Chandigarh said that the way the Union government passed the three farm laws and then increased the BSF’s jurisdiction, without taking the Punjab government into confidence, was clearly against the federal structure of the country.

“Even though Article 370’s context is different from that of the farm laws, the underlying concept is that states’ rights were being trampled upon. Punjab has, from time to time, been raising its voice for a strong federal structure because every state has its own rights and this statement is a hint that the federal structure was being undermined,” he said.

The Wire also spoke to Adnan Ashraf Mir, J&K People’s Conference spokesperson, who said that he would take Channi’s statement with a pinch of salt because even the Congress leaders at the national level have maintained a stoic silence on the withdrawal of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status.

“The Congress had been supporting our demand of giving statehood to J&K but they remain mum over the issue of dilution of Article 370. In fact, it seems that all political parties have a consensus on this issue in terms of national security. It would be advisable [for] the Congress [to] maintain a uniform stance on Article 370. Rather, with such statements, the BJP would gain electorally, as elections are around the corner in many states, including Uttar Pradesh and this can further pose a problem for people in Kashmir, as Delhi and J&K’s relations would be impacted,” Mir said.

People’s Democratic Party (PDP) spokesperson Tahir Sayeed said, “When Article 370 was diluted, we had warned the regional parties that soon, your rights would also come under attack, but at that time everybody supported the move, citing the national security issue. It was the beginning of the attack on the federal structure of the country. Whether it is the issue of increasing the jurisdiction of the BSF in Punjab or the three controversial farm laws, the Union government is forcibly imposing its decisions and interfering with the state’s affairs. Agriculture is a state subject but the BJP went ahead with its decision without taking anybody into confidence, like they did in J&K. But still, if chief minister Channi has realised that the federal structure is under attack, I think it is a welcome move.”

Also read: Did Inaction Against the Badals Lead to Amarinder Singh’s Unceremonious Exit?

However, senior BJP leader and former minister Manoranjan Kalia from the Jalandhar Central assembly constituency said that by reading down Article 370, the BJP has ‘integrated’ J&K with India. “Channi’s statement on Article 370 in the Vidhan Sabha is against the country. Channi is not fit to remain the CM of Punjab and he should be dismissed. The Congress also passed a resolution rejecting the central government’s decision on extending the jurisdiction of the BSF from 15 to 50 km, which is absolutely unconstitutional,” Kalia claimed.

Recently, farmers had cornered the Aam Admi Party (AAP) convener and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal in Punjab’s Mansa district over his support for the decision to read down Article 370 in J&K, after which Kejriwal had left the meeting in a huff.

Now, SAD president Badal has come under attack on the same issue, as he recently promised to implement the long-pending Anandpur Sahib Resolution if the SAD and its alliance partner Nahujan Samaj Party (BSP) came to power.

However, farmers in Punjab have been wary of such political statements, as they had been protesting against the three farm laws which too, they say, were forcibly imposed on them. Farmers maintain that the promise to implement the Anandpur Sahib resolution rings hollow if seen in the context of the SAD’s support to decisions that directly affect the rights of the states.

Punjab Cabinet Opposes Union Government’s Decision to Extend BSF Jurisdiction

Chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi said law and order is a state subject and the police force is capable of dealing with any situation.

Chandigarh: Opposing the Union government’s move to extend the Border Security Force (BSF)’s area of jurisdiction in the state, the Punjab cabinet on Monday said law and order is a state subject and the police force is capable of dealing with any situation.

The Union government had amended the BSF Act to authorise the force to undertake search, seizure and arrest within a 50 km stretch, up from the existing 15 km, from the international border in Punjab, West Bengal and Assam.

“We are completely against it. Law and order is a state subject. The state police, which can end terrorism from the state, is capable of preventing any incident,” Charanjit Singh Channi, the chief minister of Punjab, stated after chairing a cabinet meeting.

“We oppose it,” the chief minister said, adding that the move is not justified.

Also Read: Why Amit Shah’s Decision to Expand Definition of ‘Border Area’ for BSF Defies Logic

Such decisions should not be taken without consulting the state government, he added.

“A special cabinet meeting will be called on this issue,” Channi said.

“If the need arises, an all-party meeting will be called. We will take other (political) parties along (over this issue),” he said.

“A special assembly session will be convened if needed,” he added.

On Sunday, the Shiromani Akali Dal targeted the Punjab government over the extension of the BSF’s jurisdiction, saying the chief minister should answer “why he had acquiesced” to the Union government’s move.

Last week, the state government had taken a strong exception to the Union government’s decision, dubbing it an attack on federalism .

It had also asked the Union government to withdraw the decision.

(PTI)

Watch | Charanjit Singh Channi: Will a Dalit Chief Minister Help Congress Win Punjab?

Will the Congress’ move to appoint Punjab’s first Dalit CM pay dividends in the upcoming assembly elections?

On Sunday, the Congress put an end to the uncertainty surrounding the leadership of Punjab when it announced Charanjit Singh Channi as the state’s new chief minister.

Selecting Channi has earned the Congress praise from several corners since he will be the first Dalit chief minister of Punjab, despite around 30% of the state’s population belonging to the Dalit community. The move has, however, also earned criticism, with BSP chief Mayawati calling Channi a “dummy CM” and dubbing the Congress’s actions an election gimmick.

With just a few weeks to go before assembly elections in the state, how will the Congress fair when up against the Akali Dal, the BJP and even the AAP? Moreover, how will the farmers’ movement affect politics in the state? In this video, The Wire’s Arfa Khanum Sherwani tackles all these questions and more.

 

Kejriwal, Amarinder Singh Lock Horns on Twitter Over Farmer Protests

The latest exchange between the two leaders began after Singh described Kejriwal’s announcement that he will observe a one-day fast in support of the protesting farmers, as “theatrics”.

New Delhi Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and his Punjab counterpart Amarinder Singh engaged in a Twitter spat, on Monday, over the ongoing farmers’ protest.

The war of words between the two leaders began after Singh, addressing a press conference at Chandigarh on Sunday, described Kejriwal’s announcement that he will observe a one-day fast on Monday in support of the protesting farmers, as “theatrics”.

Responding to Singh’s comments, Kejriwal accused him of having “done a deal with the Centre to save your son from ED (Enforcement Directorate)”.

“I have been with the farmers since beginning. I did not let Delhi’s stadiums being turned into jails. I fought with the Center. I am serving the farmers by becoming their sewadaar. You have done a deal with the Centre to save your son from the ED. You disowned the farmers’ movement. Why?” Kejriwal tweeted in Hindi, attaching a news article on Singh’s statement.

Singh responded to the tweet by saying that he is not cowed down by the ED or other cases, and accused Kejriwal of “selling his soul for political purposes”.

“Just as every Punjabi knows, I am not one to be cowed down by ED or other cases, you Mr @ArvindKejriwal will even sell your soul if it serves your political purposes. If you think farmers are going to be taken in by your dramatics then you are totally mistaken,” he tweeted.

“Farmers of India and particularly Punjab know that you Mr @ArvindKejriwal have sold off the interest of farmers by notifying one of the draconian farm bills in Delhi on November 23. What pressure did the Centre have on you,” Singh said in another tweet.

In response, Kejriwal accused Singh of being part of the committee which drafted the three bills that were passed into the laws.

Also read: With an Eye on Punjab Polls, Kejriwal and Amarinder Singh Spar Over Farm Laws

“You were part of the committee which drafted these Bills. These Bills are your gift’ to the nation. Captain sahib, why do BJP leaders never accuse you of double standards the way they accuse all other leaders of?,” Kejriwal tweeted.

In response to this, Singh said these farm laws were not discussed at any meeting.

“These farm laws were not discussed at any meeting & your repeated lies will not change that Mr @ArvindKejriwal. And naturally BJP can’t accuse me of double standards as I don’t have any nexus with them like you have. They after all have to cover up their collusion with you!” Singh tweeted.

Kejriwal said it is matter of record that Singh’s committee drafted these laws

“It’s a part of record that your committee drafted these laws. You had the power to stop these laws, tell the people of this country that such laws were being contemplated by the centre. Why did u go along with the centre?” Kejriwal tweeted.

The three farm laws that were enacted in September have been projected by the Centre as major reforms in the agriculture sector that will remove the middlemen and allow farmers to sell anywhere in the country. However, the protesting farmers have expressed apprehension that the new laws would pave the way for eliminating the safety cushion of minimum support price (MSP) and do away with the mandi system, leaving them at the mercy of big corporates.

PM-CM Meet on COVID-19: Modi Calls For ‘Balanced Strategy’, States Ask For Autonomy

“Our biggest challenge will be to ensure COVID-19 doesn’t spread to villages in spite of relaxations,” PM Modi said at the meeting.

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday called for a “balanced strategy” to tackle the COVID-19 crisis as he sought inputs from states on the way forward in fighting the pandemic, even as the nationwide tally crossed the 70,000 mark. The death toll also crossed 2,200 with more people succumbing to COVID-19, including in Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat.

The interaction was also attended by defence minister Rajnath Singh, home minister Amit Shah, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman and health minister Harsh Vardhan among others. This was the fifth such meeting between PM Modi and state chief ministers since the outbreak emerged.

Several chief ministers spoke of the road that should be taken after the third lockdown is lifted and asked for more autonomy in making decisions.

“States face different challenges and therefore should be given the freedom to make reasonable changes to the guidelines relating to the lockdown,” said Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

‘Balanced strategy’

PM Modi flagged that problems have increased wherever social distancing norms were not followed or there has been laxity in implementation of the lockdown guidelines. He also said the biggest challenge will be to ensure that the infection does not spread to villages, sources said.

The new cases detected in the past few days include migrant workers who have returned to their native places from big urban clusters, many after being rendered jobless and homeless, as also some airlifted from abroad under a massive evacuation plan undertaken by the government for Indians and expatriates stranded in various countries.

Also read: Politics and COVID-19: Will the Pandemic Result in State Power Expanding?

Some chief ministers also sought measures to expand the testing infrastructure, while many of them also demanded fiscal support for the states due to the pandemic having hit hard various revenue-generating economic activities.

Sources said Modi told the chief ministers that a “balanced strategy will have to be adopted for the road ahead”, as he sought their suggestions on the way forward.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is said to have favoured allowing all economic activities, barring in the identified containment zones.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said the Centre wanted a strict lockdown enforcement on one hand, but was resuming train services on the other.

“When Government of India has opened almost everything including opening of land borders, starting trains and opening airports, then what is the point in continuing with further lockdown,” West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee asked PM Modi during the virtual PM-CMs meet.

“We are together in this crisis, however, somehow West Bengal has been targeted by central government to get political mileage. Besides central government instructions and advisories, central teams have been deputed for supervision and monitoring, which had taken away much of the time of senior officers from focusing on fight against COVID-19,” she said.

Chief ministers of Tamil Nadu and Telangana opposed resumption of passenger train services, which are scheduled to begin on Tuesday with select special trains for taking the stranded migrant workers to their native places.

Also read: What Will Politics Look Like in the Post-Pandemic World?

The home ministry said only asymptomatic people with confirmed tickets will be allowed to travel in 15 trains to be operational from Tuesday. Online bookings began for these trains on Monday evening, after some delay due to a technical glitch, and some routes got fully booked within ten minutes.

The railways have been running ‘migrant special’ trains for ferrying migrant workers since May 1, but this will be the first time in nearly 50 days that the general public can also undertake train journeys even though flight and inter-state bus services remain suspended as of now till May 17, when the third phase of the lockdown is scheduled to end.

The first phase of the nationwide lockdown began on March 25, which was supposed to be of 21 days, but it got extended later till May 3 and then further till May 17 with some relaxations.

Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray asked Modi to show “specific and concrete direction” on the ongoing lockdown and said the states would implement the same. He also requested the prime minister to start local trains in Mumbai for essential services staff working in the city. Mumbai’s coronavirus tally has reached 14,355 with 791 new cases detected on Monday, while its death toll is 528 now with 20 more fatalities. At least 57 new cases were reported from the city’s Dharavi slums.

Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh favoured extending the lockdown in view of the rising number of cases, but with a carefully crafted exit strategy backed by economic empowerment of states to save lives and secure livelihood.

Some chief ministers also suggested that the states should be allowed to decide declaring red, orange or green zones after taking into account the ground realities.

(With inputs from PTI)