7 MLAs made parliamentary secretaries in Punjab

Seven MLAs, including former Indian hockey captain Pargat Singh, were Tuesday appointed as chief parliamentary secretaries (CPSs) in Punjab.

On the recommendations of Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, governor Kaptan Singh Solanki gave his approval for the induction of seven new MLAs as chief parliamentary secretaries. A CMO spokesperson said the MLAs to be inducted as CPS would include Gurtej Singh Ghuriana, Manjit Singh Mianwind, Darshan Singh Shivalik, Gurpartap Singh Wadala, Pargat Singh, Sukhjeet Kaur Sahi and Seema Kumari. However, the governor also accorded approval to drop MLA Inderbir Singh Bolaria from the post of CPS.

Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president, Capt Amarinder Singh today lashed out at the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal for blatantly circumventing the Constitution by appointing so many Chief Parliamentary Secretaries in the state when his term was about to end in next few months only.

“It amounts to outraging the sanctity of the constitution and is absolutely unconstitutional”, he remarked, while adding, “this is a desperate attempt by Mr Badal to plug the holes in his sinking ship without realising that it has already sunk beyond any redemption”.

“This jumbo sized team of CPSs not only circumvents and subverts the provisions of the Constitution that bars appointment of more than 15 per cent of the strength of the Vidhan Sabha as ministers, it will also put extra financial burden on an already ailing and overstrained economy”, he remarked while observing that this was his last minute effort to placate his ambitious MLAs who are restless to pounce at the crumbs even if it actually meant nothing in terms of power and authority.

“You don’t have money to pay salaries and pensions and here you have appointed seven more CPSs”, he pointed out, while adding, this is the most insensitive and irresponsible move by the government. “When farmers are committing suicide, Mr Badal is busy keeping his MLAs in good humour throwing leftover crumbs of power at them at the fag-end of his term”, he remarked.