CHANDIGARH: It was a coming of-age moment for Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal in the Punjab Assembly on Wednesday as he delivered his maiden speech in the absence of his indisposed father, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.
In his 90-minute speech packed with facts and his trade mark passion, Sukhbir demon strated the composure of sen ior Badal as he didn’t lose nerve despite 27 interruptions by a pesky Opposition Congress.
For his well-wishers, the absence of Badal was an oppor tunity for Sukhbir to prove that he was worthy and prepared to step into his father’s shoes. And at the end of the day, they were all glad that “Pappu pass ho gaya”, a measure of Sukhbir’s political maturity.
Sukhbir has been acting as the leader of the House ever since the Budget session began on March 4. He began well by taking on the Opposition on contentious issues, but looked has sled once the Congress legislators began interrupting his speech by continuously asking for the point of order.
Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, Lal Singh, Avtar Singh Brar, Sunil Jakhar, Rana Gurmit Sodhi, Jeet Mohinder Singh, Sukhpal Singh Khaira, Balbir Singh Sidhu and Razia Sultan stood up several times for the point of order.
Even Speaker Nirmal Singh Kahlon could not help telling the Opposition that it was mis using its right.’
By this time Sukhbir regained his composure and thanked the Congress MLAs in lighter vein that they were helping him take rest every five minutes.
As the speech neared its end, even Khaira, the most vocal crit ic of the SAD-BJP alliance, could not help but appreciate Sukhbir for keeping a calm disposition. “Learn something from your leader, who has been keeping a big smile on his face all the time. While you all look so tense and . worked up”, said Khaira .
SOURCE-HT
