High drama in Punjab Assembly as AAP MLAs thrown out for creating ruckus

CHANDIGARH: A high drama prevailed inside the Punjab Assembly on Thursday fter Main opposition Aam Aadmi Party and ally Lok Insaaf Party (LIP) MLAs were physically removed out of the Punjab assembly here today by the Marshals The AAP legislators were protesting stopping of party's chief whip Sukhpal Khaira and LIP leader Simarjeet Singh Bains at the assembly gate. A Sikh legislator from AAP also alleged that his turban was taken off as marshalls pushed his party legislators out of the house. AAP legislator Pirmal Singh Dhaula came out of the house with his turban in his hand and his hair open. He alleged that his turban came off during manhandling by the marshalls after the Speaker ordered the removal of AAP lawmakers from the house. Tension prevailed inside and outside the house following the incident. Speaker Rana K.P. Singh ordered the AAP lawmakers' removal after they protested his order, banning the entry of two legislators -- Sukhpal Singh Khaira of AAP, and Simarjeet Singh Bains of AAP ally Lok Insaaf Party. Last week, Khaira and Bains were suspended for rest of the budget session. Khaira was suspended after he uploaded a video of ruckus in the House on June 16 and went live on Facebook from inside the House. LIP's Bains was suspended on June 15 for hurling some papers towards the Chair. "This is the worst situation for democracy. We have not witnessed such manhandling. The Congress government is to blame for it," Dhaula said after coming out of the house. AAP legislators shouted slogans inside and outside the assembly building against the Speaker and the Congress government. Some legislators tried to enter the house again but the marshalls and security personnel physically stopped them. Opposition Shiromani Akali Dal legislators also supported the AAP lawmakers. The house was adjourned by the Speaker for some time. Earlier, both Khaira and Bains were stopped by the assembly security personnel from entering the building on Thursday morning. Both were suspended for the remainder of the budget session last week but they continued their sit-in protest inside the assembly building (not inside the house). On Thursday, they were prevented from entering the complex. Dhaula said that he was an 'Amritdhari' (baptised) Sikh and his turban had been removed by the assembly security. "I will urge the Akal Takht to take cognizance of this incident and initiate action against those responsible for this," Dhaula told the media. (With inputs from agencies)