Punjab

"The BJP is using anti-defection law as a new tool to form governments in the state through the backdoor and unfortunately despite of being its worst victim, the Congress is supporting it," Bhagwant Mann said, while introducing the confidence motion on the first day of the Assembly session

In a statement, Capt. Amarinder said it was his government that had pursued the matter with the Centre since 2017 when he took over as the Chief Minister. He said it was a long-pending demand of the Punjabis that the airport must be named after Shaheed Bhagat Singh, who is an outstanding symbol of valour, courage and sacrifice for the country.

A letter from Governor Banwarilal Purohit read that in exercise of powers conferred upon him by virtue of Clause (1) of Article 174 of Constitution, he is summoning the session on September 27 at 11 am. A day earlier, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said it was condemnable that the Governor had sought details of legislative business for the proposed Assembly session.

In a statement, the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said the government will approach the Supreme Court against the arbitrary and anti-democratic decision of the Governor to cancel the permission of holding a special session of the Vidhan Sabha after giving permission for it.

A police spokesperson said they have registered an FIR based on prima facie basis and investigation has been transferred to the Vigilance Bureau as per standard guidelines. Earlier in the day amid allegations of the BJP attempting to bring down the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab, the AAP said it has filed a formal complaint, along with all proof.

The legislators were Dinesh Chadha, Raman Arora, Budh Ram, Kulwant Pandori, Narinder Kaur Bharaj, Rajnish Dahiya, Rupinder Singh Happy, Sheetal Angural, Manjit Singh Bilaspur, Labh Singh Ugoke and Baljinder Kaur. However, the BJP dismissed the allegation by saying AAP was attempting to divert public attention from its governance failures.

A hearing in this matter was held in the Supreme Court in which the Central government informed the court that the Punjab government is not giving any cooperation in the matter. The apex court directed the Central government to organise a meeting of the Chief Ministers of both Punjab and Haryana and try to amicably resolve the issue.

Governor Banwari Lal Purohit gave nod to the gazette notification of 'One MLA, One Pension' amendment.In a statement, the Chief Minister said in the last 75 years, the elected representatives have turned into political executives by drawing extravagant salaries and pensions from the state exchequer. He said the entire burden of the pension facility extended to these leaders is met by taxpayers.

The AAP leaders led a party protest in January 2020 against the then Congress government led by Capt Amarinder Singh against the power tariff hike. However, the court had granted exemption from appearance to another Cabinet minister Aman Arora. A case was registered against AAP leaders, including Mann and Cheema, on charges of pelting Chandigarh Police with stones in a demonstration on January 10, 2020.

The IMA said that the shocking incident wherein Vice Chancellor Raj Bahadur was made to lie on a patient's "dirty" bed sheet was absolutely uncalled for. "Indian Medical Association strongly condemns the derogatory action by the Punjab Health Minister who humiliated Raj Bahadur, Vice Chancellor of Baba Farid University of Health Sciences on July 29. It is not only humiliation for the Vice Chancellor Raj Bahadur, but the entire medical fraternity across India has been insulted," the IMA said in a statement.