‘None of your business’ retorts Punjab Government as Guv seeks details of special session

Chandigarh, September 24: Shortly after Governor of Punjab Banwarilal Purohit issued a letter seeking ‘legislative business’ details ahead of special session called on September 27, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann while condemning the move said “it’s too much”. Two of the constitutional bodies’ governor and state government have been engaged in a tussle ever since the former withdrew his order summoning a special assembly session on Thursday for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government to move a confidence motion. The governor withdrew the order citing the absence of specific rules regarding convening the assembly for the motion.   In a letter to Punjab Vidhan Sabha secretary Surinder Pal, the governor’s office sought details of the legislative business.   “On the letter of Secretary, Punjab Vidhan Sabha, dated 22nd September, 2022 requesting for the order of approval by Hon’ble Governor, Punjab for summoning the Punjab Vidhan Sabha on 27th September, 2022, a letter from Punjab Governor’s Office has been addressed to the Secretary, Punjab Vidhan Sabha seeking details of the legislative business to be taken up in the proposed assembly session,” a statement from the Raj Bhawan said.   Condemning the move, CM Mann took to his twitter and wrote, “In 75 years, no Presi/Gov ever asked list of Legislative business before calling session. Legislative business is decided by BAC (Business Advisory Committee) and speaker. Next Gov will ask all speeches also to be approved by him. Its too much (sic)”.   Meanwhile reacting on this, Punjab Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha said, “Whether it's inflation or the ‘Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives’ - legislative business is exclusive domain of Business Advisory Committee & Speaker, not of Governor. The Governor of Punjab is thoroughly eroding people's faith in his office, one communication at a time.”   On Thursday, the state government decided to reconvene the assembly session with a revised agenda on September 27. -PTC News