Chandigarh: AAP leader Sukhpal Singh Khaira today claimed the Punjab government was planning to appoint Congress MLAs as 'legislative assistants' to pacify agitating party legislators at the cost of public exchequer.

"Chief Minister Amarinder Singh is going to appoint Congress MLAs as Legislative Assistants with independent portfolios. This is nothing but mockery of the constitution provision that doesn't allow more than 10 per cent ministers of the strength of the Vidhan Sabha," the Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly said here.

These new "unconstitutional appointments" are being made on the lines of parliamentary secretaries, which were quashed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court, he said.

"Now this is the new modus operandi of Amarinder Singh to bypass and hoodwink the constitution and pacify agitating Congress MLAs at the cost of the public exchequer," Khaira alleged.

He said in the USA, legislative assistants are appointed, but they were paid employees to assist Senators and Congressmen.

"Therefore, I urge the government not to indulge in this grossly erroneous and unconstitutional methodology. We will move the High Court against this illegitimate step of the government," Khaira warned.  PTI