Punjab Assembly Uproar: BJP MLA Ashwani Sharma’s ‘Girl Child’ Remark Sparks Outrage
In a shocking turn of events, a remark by BJP MLA Ashwani Sharma has triggered a massive uproar in the Punjab Assembly. The Pathankot MLA’s comment, which referred to the birth of a girl child, was made in response to a statement by Mines and Geology Minister Narinder Kumar Goyal.
Blame Game Continues
The controversy began during zero hour when Minister Goyal blamed the Centre for the state’s inability to maximise revenue from the mining sector. “Had the Union Government supported us, mining revenue would have touched Rs 20,000 crore as promised by Arvind Kejriwal,” Goyal said. Sharma’s response was swift and incendiary, sparking a heated debate in the Assembly.
A Provocative Remark
Sharma’s remark read: “Your situation is such that if a girl child is born, the Centre is at fault, and if a boy is born, it is because of your hard work. You have turned everything into a platform for making political statements. You blame the Centre for every issue.” The remark drew strong objections from the treasury benches, with Cabinet Minister Aman Arora accusing the MLA of displaying a discriminatory mindset.
A Discriminatory Mindset?
Arora’s reaction was swift and scathing. “Do you differentiate between a boy and a girl? It is a discriminatory mindset,” he said. The remark has sparked widespread outrage, with many questioning Sharma’s intentions. Was the comment intended to be taken literally or was it a clever ploy to deflect attention from the real issue at hand?
A Clarification and a Condemnation Motion
Sharma has since clarified that his remark was not intended to offend anyone. In a letter to Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan, he urged the Speaker to take an impartial and fact-based view of the controversy surrounding his statement. Sharma claimed that he had merely used a commonly known rural Punjabi proverb to counter what he described as a baseless allegation by the ruling party.
A Provocation or a Misunderstanding?
Sharma maintained that he had prefaced the proverb with the words “khima sahit” (with due apologies), making it clear that there was no intention to offend anyone. He further pointed out that he had immediately stated on the floor of the House that if any member or section of society felt offended by his words, they could be expunged from the Assembly proceedings. Sharma said this demonstrated both his respect for the dignity of the House and his sensitivity towards public sentiment.
A Divided House
The controversy has left the Punjab Assembly divided, with the treasury benches terming Sharma’s remark as a reflection of a discriminatory mindset. The Speaker has yet to take a decision on the matter, but one thing is clear: the remark has sparked a heated debate that will not subside anytime soon. As the Assembly continues to grapple with the fallout of Sharma’s comment, one can’t help but wonder: was this a provocation or a misunderstanding? Only time will tell.