BJP Leader Ashwani Sharma Attacks Punjab Govt on Session Adjournment

A day after the special Assembly session in Punjab was adjourned for the entire day within minutes of starting, BJP leader and Pathankot MLA Ashwani Sharma has launched a sharp attack on the Bhagwant Mann government. Sharma, a former Punjab BJP president, said the government was avoiding scrutiny and public questions.

Speaking on Thursday, Sharma asked why the session had been stopped so quickly on its opening day. He said the government was trying to avoid answering the opposition and the people of the state.

Sharma linked the government's discomfort to the deaths of three anti-drug activists in the last month. He named Parvinder Singh Jhota from Mansa, Gulzar Singh from Sangrur and Bikramjit Singh from Batala, and said these deaths had rattled the government.

According to him, the government was shying away from confronting the public and was dodging questions raised by the opposition inside the Assembly. He termed the full-day adjournment of the special session another attempt to avoid accountability on issues that matter to the people.

Sharma questioned the procedure followed for adjourning the House, stating that the day's agenda had already been decided. Tributes were paid as soon as the Speaker entered the chamber, after which the proceedings were suspended for the rest of the day, he said.

Highlighting the law and order situation, the MLA claimed that Punjab was gripped by fear and that people no longer felt safe. He alleged that police were occupied with securing their own police stations instead of protecting citizens.

He also criticised the government's response to the demands of state employees. Sharma said several meetings had been held, yet employees had not received their full Dearness Allowance, and demands including the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme had not been met.

Accusing the government of misleading its employees, Sharma said the BJP would support their legitimate demands firmly and assist them in their struggle.

He urged the state government to stop avoiding public interest debates and to bring the truth out in the deaths of the three anti-drug activists. He also called on it to fulfil its duties to Punjab's people and resolve the pending grievances of state employees.