Ugly face off between Majithia and Sidhu, Akalis dismissed from House

The Shiromani Akali Dal lead by Bikramjit Singh Majithia, today disrupted the budget session while Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal was presenting the budget for fiscal year 2019-20. Akalis, with black bands on their sleeves, protested against Cabinet Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu. They were protesting against his statement after Pulwama attack.

The speaker tried to pacify the protestors and requested many times to sit and let the finance minister present his Budget speech, but they refused. After issuing a lot of warnings, the speaker informed the Akalis that they will have to be dismissed from the House. After the speaker asked Manpreet Singh Badal to halt his speech, an ugly spat took place between Majithia and Sidhu. The speaker then called in marshals to escort the Akalis out of the house, and adjourned the House.

It was resumed at 1’o clock. Addressing the media during the adjournment, outside the House, Navjot Singh Sidhu said,“ The culprits of Pulwama attack should be given such a punishment, that it acts a deterrent for generations to come. This is a war against all the culprits, but a Guru’s Sikh cannot fight against or blame a small child, or a woman, or any innocent for that matter. The ones giving shelter to the terrorists should be told to hand them over, I sand by this opinion always.”