CHANDIGARH: The Punjab Assembly was adjourned on Tuesday without conducting any major business as the Opposition Shiromani Akali Dal succeeded in disrupting the proceedings. They demanded appointment of a House committee to probe the charges made by a member from the treasury benches about an alleged scandal relating to pressuring the Improvement Trust of Amritsar to accommodate a private coloniser.

The trouble started when a question by a Congress legislator, Bir Devinder Singh, which had been postponed earlier on February 22, came up on Tuesday. He sought a clarification from the Minister for Local Bodies, Jagjit Singh, regarding some discrepancies and violation of rules in granting exemption from acquisition of land to a private coloniser, when the Trust announced the revival of its 10-year-old housing scheme proposed in an area of 275 acres.

Mr. Singh, who charged that the exemption had cost the State exchequer a loss of around Rs 500 crores, demanded the setting up of a House Committee to bring out the truth. He opposed the proposal from the Minister, to institute a departmental inquiry.

At this, the former Finance Minister, Kanwaljit Singh, of the Akali Dal, appealed to the Speaker, Kewal Krishan to accept the demand for setting up a House Committee, keeping in view the gravity of matter. As soon as the Speaker rejected the demand, the Opposition members entered the well of the House and raised slogans. When attempts to restore order failed, the Speaker adjourned the House for one hour.

Both the Leader of the House, Chief Minister, Amarinder Singh and the Leader of the Opposition, Parkash Singh Badal, were not present when the pandemonium erupted. When the House re-assembled, Mr. Badal made a strong case in favour of setting up a House Committee. He reminded that the government had ordered the arrest of former Akali ministers on charges of corruption, even in the absence of a formal complaint. He pointed out that as a Congress legislator had made serious charges, pointing an accusing finger at the Minister, adequate action was warranted.

At this the Speaker suggested that the matter be probed by the `Question & Answer Committee' or the opposition move a motion seeking the setting up of a House Committee. The Opposition argued against both and insisted that the Speaker announce the setting up of the House Committee. When he refused to accept the demand, the Akalis started a noisy protest in the well, leading to adjournment of the House for the day.

Later, talking to reporters, Mr. Jagjit Singh, who was accompanied by the Secretary for Local Bodies department, B.R. Bajaj, denied any bungling in the matter. He claimed that Improvement Trust of Amritsar had taken all decisions within its legal jurisdiction and the policy of the State Government to promote private participation in housing projects.

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