GG News Bureau
Chandigarh, 15th Feb. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said on Tuesday that the special orientation program for MLAs will serve as a benchmark for quality debates and legislative work in the state assembly in the coming sessions.
According to an official release, Mr Mann was addressing the legislators during the inaugural session of the orientation program here in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha.
This is a path breaking initiative that will bring qualitative change in the functioning of the assembly, he said.
People have given the MLAs a massive mandate, and they have high expectations of them, Mr Mann said, adding that these hopes can be realized through active participation of the MLAs in debates and legislative procedures.
The time has come for all political parties in the state to put aside their differences and work together to protect the state’s interests, according to Mann.
Political parties in other states unite together for the common good of their state and its people, he claims, but this is not the case in his state.
Mann stated that this is the need of the hour to ensure that state issues are resolved as soon as possible.
The CM cited a “faulty” decision by the Union government to supply coal to the state via sea route from its allotted coal mine as an example of a “irrational” decision.
The state uses this coal for producing paddy which plays a key role in filling the food bowl of the country, Mann said, adding Punjab is being made to bear high expense of coal just which is “unjustified, intolerable and unwarranted”.
Punjabis are not isolated from politics, he claims, and they take an active interest in the political environment that affects them.
He stated that both the opposition and ruling parties are catalysts for healthy democracy, emphasizing the importance of active participation in quality debates in the House.
Homework is very important for quality debates by the MLAs, he said, adding that all the legislatures must come prepared for these debates.
In his address, Rajya Sabha Member Sanjay Singh described the disruption practices during debates on important issues in Parliament or Vidhan Sabha Sessions as a part of the parliamentary system.
Citing an example, he said if our suggestions (disruptions) regarding not bringing the farm law had been taken into consideration in time; the ruling party would not have had to face the brunt of the farmers’ struggle for a year.
He said MLAs should take advantage of zero hour and others to raise issues related to their assembly segments.
He told the MLAs to equip themselves with deep knowledge about the legislative functioning to ensure better facilities to the people.
Earlier, Speaker of Punjab Sabha Kultar Singh Sandhwan, said the orientation programme will help a lot in improving the quality of debates and proceedings of the House.
Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa suggested that a cluster of MLAs be formed and Legislative assistants be associated with them.
He said that this will help the MLAs in aptly raising the matters pertaining to their concern.
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