Chandigarh: With Congress defiantly planning to screen the controversial CD showing Punjab revenue minister hurling abuses at a Congress MLA in the Vidhan Sabha, a face-off between the Speaker and Cong party seems imminent.
After unfurling the National Flag during the Republic Day parade in Ludhiana, the Speaker of the Punjab Assembly had hinted at taking action against the Congress leaders in case they went ahead with screening the CD during the Moga by-election.
He also threatened to suspend the MLAs in case they went ahead with the screening.
This provoked instant reaction from Punjab Congress President Capt. Amarinder Singh, who not only reiterated that his party will go ahead with screening of the CD but also challenged the Speaker to suspend them if he wants to and they will go to the court against any such suspension.
The ruling Akali Dal is faced with an uphill task in Moga by-poll as the party candidate Joginderpal Jain is faced with a stiff opposition not only from the Congress, the party he defected from, but also the Akalis, the party he now represents as the candidate, party sources said here.
It is not for the first time that the Congress will be screening the CD in public despite the Speaker`s gag orders. The party screened it during the Maghi mela recently at Muktsar.
Reiterating that the Congress party will continue to screen the CD showing Bikram Singh Majithia hurling expletives on Rana Gurjeet inside the assembly, Amarinder questioned the logic behind the Speaker`s threat to the party MLAs that he will take action against them and may also suspend them.
Reacting to Atwal`s threat of suspension, Capt Amarinder declared that the CD will be screened during the Moga by-election and if the Speaker wanted to suspend him or any of the party members he could and party will go to the court.
The PCC President argued, it was absolutely illogical on part of the Speaker to claim that the remarks had been expunged from the proceedings of the house when he had himself allowed the proceedings to be shown live.
He pointed out, the recordings were already in public domain and it will be impossible to take these back.
PTI
