Punjab assembly condemns beheading of two Sikhs in Pak

Punjab assembly today condemned the recent beheading of two Sikhs by the Taliban in Pakistan, the racial attacks on Indians in Australia while asking the Centre discuss the issues at appropriate levels using all possible diplomatic channels.

Speaker Nirmal Singh Kahlon said the assembly will write to the Centre over these issues and also the killing of a Sikh Sukhwinder Singh in UK recently.

Earlier, deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal of the ruling SAD also appealed to the Union government to take up these matters using all diplomatic channels.

The speaker also expressed condolence over recent demise of former West Bengal chief minister Jyoti Basu and said with the death of the Communist leader an era in political history of the country had ended.

The House also paid tributes to 14 freedom fighters, including Diwan Jagdish Chander, Gurdev Singh, Jetha Singh and Kesar Singh and to five writers, including TR Vinod and Santokh Singh.

After the obituary references the House was adjourned till March 8.