Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit has turned down the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government’s demand for a special session of the assembly to introduce a confidence motion. The Governor has withdrawn the order to summon a special session of the Punjab assembly on September 22. His decision has triggered a massive point-counterpoint between all the major political parties in the state — AAP, BJP, Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD).
Reacting sharply to the Punjab Governor’s decision, Delhi Chief Minister and AAP Convenor Arvind Kejriwal tweeted: “How can the governor refuse a session called by the cabinet? Then democracy is over. Two days ago, the Governor gave permission for the session. When Operation Lotus started failing and the number was not completed, a call came from above asking to withdraw the permission.”
राज्यपाल कैबिनेट द्वारा बुलाए सत्र को कैसे मना कर सकते हैं? फिर तो जनतंत्र खतम है
दो दिन पहले राज्यपाल ने सत्र की इजाज़त दी। जब ऑपरेशन लोटस फ़ेल होता लगा और संख्या पूरी नहीं हुई तो ऊपर से फ़ोन आया कि इजाज़त वापिस ले लो
आज देश में एक तरफ़ संविधान है और दूसरी तरफ़ ऑपरेशन लोटस। pic.twitter.com/BHwuyUG23X
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) September 21, 2022
Criticising the Governor’s move, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann tweeted: “Not allowing the assembly to run by the governor raises big questions on the democracy of the country … now democracy will be run by the elected representatives of crores of people or a person appointed by the central government…”
While Mr Mann has summoned a meeting of all AAP MLAs at the assembly tomorrow, BJP has announced that it will barricade the Chief Minister’s residence.
AAP came down heavily on Congress and BJP, saying the two were in cahoots to cancel the special session of Punjab assembly. AAP termed the Governor’s move a murder of democracy.
Addressing a press conference in Chandigarh, Punjab’s New and Renewable Energy Sources Minister Aman Arora said: “Leader of the Opposition and Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa is dancing to the tunes of the BJP to safeguard his Z+ category security. He is not concerned about saving democracy at all.”
