Former Punjab CM Amarinder expelled from assembly
1 min read . Updated: 10 Sep 2008, 07:45 PM IST
PremiumFormer Punjab CM Amarinder expelled from assembly
Chandigarh: Former Punjab chief minister and Congress leader Amarinder Singh was on Wednesday expelled from the state assembly after being indicted in a corruption case by a special committee of the house . His seat was declared vacant.
The Congress leader, who represents Patiala assembly constituency, was on Friday indicted by the committee for alleged irregularities in exempting 32.10 acres of land for private development in Amritsar during his tenure as chief minister from 2002 to 2007.
A resolution to expel Amarinder Singh was moved by the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal, or SAD, legislator Harish Rai Dhanda and passed amid protests by Congress members who boycotted the proceedings.
The Election Commission will be asked to hold bye-elections and the director of Vigilance Bureau will be directed to inquire into the Amritsar land scam, in which Singh was indicted, and submit a report within two months, the resolution said.
Amarinder Singh said he had anticipated the action. “There is no governance in Punjab," he said.
State Congress president Mohinder Singh Kaypee said: “We are all with Amarinder Singh."
The ruling SAD had on Tuesday issued a whip to its members asking them to remain present in the assembly on Wednesday when the report of the committee was to be debated. In the 117-member assembly, SAD has 49 members, its ally Bhaaratiya Janata Party, has 19 and Congress 44. The remaining five legislators in the house are independents.
(PTI also contributed to this story)
