Ally BJP targets Akalis on Valtoha’s terror links
VALTOHA HAS TENDERED HIS APOLOGY. HUN KI KAROGE... GOLI MAROGE... (WHAT WILL YOU DO NOW? SHOOT HIM?)
PARKASH SINGH BADAL, Punjab CM THE BJP IS WITH YOU (SAD) ON ALL ISSUES. BUT ONE MEMBER (VALTOHA) CALLING HIMSELF A TERRORIST IS UNCALLED-FOR.
ANIL JOSHI, BJP minister
CHANDIGARH: Virtually playing the Opposition’s role in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha on Wednesday, an unusually furious Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) launched a frontal attack on its alliance partner, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), over Akali chief parliamentary secretary (CPS) Virsa Singh Valtoha’s admission of his past ‘terror links’.
The saffron party asked chief minister Parkash Singh Badal to “rein in such Akali leaders” and condemned not only “terrorism and drugs” but also people linked with it -- a stunning move that was like a siege within.
The opposition Congress staged a walkout from the House after nearly 90 minutes of the proceedings on the final day of the three-day winter session, but the Opposition’s absence was not felt as the SAD-BJP legislators targeted their cabinet ministers.
Also, sharp differences within the BJP abruptly came to the fore when former minister Manoranjan Kalia pointed out a lacuna in the bill presented by local bodies minister Anil Joshi. SPEAKER TALKS TOUGH
BJP MLA Som Parkash and BJP minister Madan Mohan Mittal came to Joshi’s defence. But speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal and Akali MLA justice Nirmal Singh (retd) endorsed Kalia’s contentions. Atwal, otherwise known for his cool demeanour, had to do some tough talk when Mittal and Akali CPS Pawan Kumar Tinu indirectly referred to the speaker’s style of functioning.
Earlier, Joshi, whose father was killed by terrorists during the days of militancy in Punjab, took strong exception to Valtoha’s cheeky admission of his past ‘terror links’. O n Wednesday, Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Sunil Jakhar moved the privilege motion against Valtoha, saying: “Now that a member of the House has professed on the floor of the House to be a terrorist himself... it is a serious matter.” The speaker, however, rejected this on the grounds that it was moved after the House assembled.
As Valtoha, on the back foot since Tuesday, tried to explain his position over the terror remarks, saying that he always fought for Punjab’s rights, Joshi interjected, saying: “Our colleague openly calls himself a terrorist with pride and claims that he fought for the rights/ pride of Punjab. Badal (CM) also fights for the rights of Punjab. Valtoha’s remark has hurt me and the BJP as my father was killed by terrorists.”
Urging Badal to “advise his MLA to control the tongue” and not cause embarrassment to the government, he said the BJP was being ridiculed by people over Valtoha’s remarks.
“We are part of the government and are a coalition partner. The BJP is with you (SAD) on all issues. But one member calling himself a terrorist is uncalledfor,” Joshi said, urging the CM to “control the language being used by SAD members” and that such utterances sent wrong signals.
Stung by the BJP attack, Valtoha was on his feet again to clarify his position. But Badal directed him to “sit down” and “leave this topic”, even as the speaker came to Valtoha’s rescue, saying that the CPS was just giving a ‘personal explanation’.
“We condemn terrorism and also drugs,” Joshi thundered.