Political tensions have escalated in Punjab as the ruling AAP sought Opposition support during a special Assembly session to address the aftermath of recent floods. This move comes after both sides engaged in heated exchanges during the initial House sitting.
The demand for Opposition backing was met with criticism from Leader of the Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa, who accused the government of attempting to divert attention from its own shortcomings by targeting the Centre.
Simultaneously, the BJP announced plans for a 'people's assembly' near its Chandigarh office to protest against the government's handling of the crisis.
The Assembly session, which commenced on Friday, witnessed intense debates between the AAP and the main Opposition Congress. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann accused the Opposition of using the platform for criticism, while the Congress called for transparency regarding the State Disaster Response Fund spending and the dismissal of the Water Resources Minister.
Minister for New and Renewable Energy Resources Aman Arora emphasized the need for unity among all parties to devise a strategy to address the flood-related challenges. Education Minister Harjot Bains underscored the urgency of forming an expert committee to assess dam capacity, sedimentation levels, and reservoir stress.
In response, Bajwa criticized the government for evading accountability and shifting blame to the Centre. He highlighted the mismanagement of Ravi waters by the state government as a significant issue.
State BJP working president Ashwani Sharma announced plans for a mock Assembly session to hold the government responsible for the crisis and demand accountability.
Key resolutions to be addressed include condemning the union Government for its lack of financial aid to flood-affected Punjab, criticizing the Prime Minister's Office for not responding to the Chief Minister's meeting requests, and advocating for a Rs 20,000 crore relief package to aid farmers and restore infrastructure.
Reference from News: AAP seeks Opposition support over floods - The Tribune