Chandigarh: Amid the Punjab government’s special Assembly session on the flood crisis, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday convened a parallel session in Chandigarh’s Sector-37, calling it the “Janata ki Vidhan Sabha.” Former Assembly Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal presided over the session as Speaker.
Senior BJP leaders said the gathering was aimed at exposing what they termed as betrayal and negligence by the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in handling floods, financial mismanagement, and irregularities flagged in the CAG report. Punjab BJP’s working president Ashwani Sharma was also present.
The session began with the national anthem, followed by a two-minute silence in memory of those who lost their lives in the floods. Speaking on the occasion, Atwal alleged that the floods were a result of the government’s failure to repair canals in time. He also questioned why the state did not utilise ₹12,000 crore it had in reserves, asking, “Where has that money gone?” Atwal further linked the state’s drug problem to governance lapses.
BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh accused the AAP government of failing to take preventive measures against floods and demanded a CBI inquiry into the matter. He said the government must present an account of its work between January and September, adding that negligence had cost lives and property. Chugh also attacked Congress, claiming it was acting as AAP’s “B-team” in the Assembly rather than fulfilling its role as the opposition.
Ashwani Sharma, meanwhile, said the BJP had been forced to hold this parallel session because the government had failed to uphold the dignity of the Assembly. “When the Speaker forgets his duty, when the ruling side mocks the voice of the people, and when instead of healing wounds, the government rubs salt on them, it becomes necessary to speak out,” he said.
