Assembly in session

Leader of the Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa today raised the issue of gangsters, including the escape of Deepak Tinu from the police custody, in the Assembly session.

To this, minister Aman Arora said their government was acting sternly on the incident while the previous government “kept its eyes shut” and did not respond to the crime incidents during their respective tenure. Reacting to the minister’s utterances, Bajwa asked, “Is Aman Arora the CM or Home Minister of Punjab?”

Earlier, in a reply to the calling attention motion moved by SAD MLA Sukhwinder Kumar Sukhi, Local Government Minister Dr Inderbir Singh Nijjar said the state government would create a common front to tackle the stray dog menace.

Sukhi said, “Of 60,000 deaths reported due to dog bites globally, at least 20,000 occurred in India. I want to ask the minister concerned whether the state government is ready to ensure the global aim of zero deaths due to dogbites by 2030.”

Nijjar said, “The issue is serious and complicated because different departments are involved. We are trying to create a common platform and need to work together to find a solution.”

AAP MLA Narinder Bharaj drew the House’s attention towards inadequate staff and equipment at the fire stations.