CHANDIGARH: The Punjab Assembly witnessed some noisy scenes during zero hour when the entire opposition protested a recent programme telecast by a television channel. The legislators charged that Punjab in general and the Sikhs in particular had been depicted in a poor light.

When Deputy Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal said that the channel was beyond the control of the State, the Akalis stood up and raised slogans. However, order was restored, when she assured that the Chief Minister would make a statement in the House on Friday.

Raising the matter, Leader of the Opposition Parkash Singh Badal demanded an independent probe into the entire matter either by a judge of the High Court or the CBI. He charged that the Congress was back at its old tricks of creating a fear psychosis in the minds of Hindus by raising the bogey of Khalistan. Mr. Badal said that the programme sought to publicise that Khalistan would be created by 2007 when the Assembly polls were scheduled. He said that the theme and content of the programme were not even remotely connected to the ground reality.

Mr. Badal alleged that the Punjab Chief Minister, Amarinder Singh, was behind the politically- motivated conspiracy.

Intervening, Ms Bhattal said the Congress had struggled and even made supreme sacrifices while stamping out terrorism in the State. She said that the present Government would deal sternly with such elements that plan to foment trouble. While the Khalistan protagonist, Dr. Chohan had been arrested, she asked Mr. Badal to explain why as Chief Minister he allowed him to return to Punjab.

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