Khaira seeks notice of breach of privilege against Punjab CM

Chandigarh: AAP MLA and leader of opposition in Punjab Assembly Sukhpal Khaira today urged Speaker Rana Kanwarpal Singh to issue breach of privilege notice to Chief Minister Amarinder Singh for allegedly sharing proceedings of the Assembly on his Facebook page. In his complaint to the speaker, Khaira alleged that the chief minister had shared two clips of his live speech in the just concluded budget session of the Assembly.

“The said clips are part of his speech delivered to conclude the discussions on the Governor’s address, on March 27. As we are aware, no proceedings whatsoever that take place inside the Vidhan Sabha can be shared or shown on social media,” Khaira said in his complaint. The Bhulath MLA said he and Lok Insaf Party MLA Simarjeet Singh Bains were facing breach of privilege notices despite never sharing live proceedings of the House.

“In my case, I had shared a clip on my Facebook page, when the House had been adjourned after ruckus last year. I never shared or showed live proceedings of the assembly, yet I was issued privilege notice,” said Khaira.

Bains had shared on his page an audio recording of the Vidhan Sabha proceedings, which was recorded from one of the audio speakers that relay proceedings in the canteen area as well as party offices of AAP, LIP, SAD-BJP and the Congress, he said.

“But in the current case, Amarinder Singh has shared the said two clips of his live speech on his Facebook page, which amounts to clear cut breach of privilege by him,” said Khaira. He said the opposition supported live coverage of the Assembly proceedings which would bring more transparency in the polity.

“But until the decision to show the proceedings of the live is taken, I feel the law of the land should be equally applicable to all whether one is a MLA or the chief minister,” said Khaira. “Therefore, I request that he (Amarinder) be issued notice of breach of privilege and his case be also referred to the Privileges Committee of the Vidhan Sabha for appropriate action,” said Khaira.