Punjab Newsline | Chandigarh
High drama unfolded in the Punjab Legislative Assembly on Friday as Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann displayed an unusually conciliatory approach, catching both treasury and opposition benches off guard. Known for his aggressive stance, the CM surprised members by addressing senior Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa respectfully and seeking his cooperation. He even urged the Speaker to allocate more speaking time to the Congress.
However, the calm was short-lived. Tensions escalated when Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira questioned the CM’s behavior. Soon after, Bajwa demanded that the Assembly doors be closed and all MLAs undergo an “alcometer test,” triggering a massive uproar in the House.
Amid the chaos, CM Mann left the Assembly, while Congress legislators staged a walkout. Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema dismissed the allegations against the Chief Minister as baseless.
Earlier, Mann had targeted Khaira, accusing him of being distracted on his phone during a discussion on workers’ issues and objecting to his sitting posture. Khaira defended himself, stating he was merely reading a bill on his phone and was being unfairly targeted.
As the argument intensified, the Chief Minister turned emotional, criticizing Khaira for allegedly making remarks about his daughter and calling for disciplinary action. His comments further fueled the confrontation.
During the debate, Bajwa raised concerns about laborers not receiving benefits from government schemes and highlighted a wage gap between Punjab and Haryana. He also demanded the release of pending dearness allowance (DA) for government employees, even suggesting that salaries of MLAs, ministers, and IAS officers be withheld until dues are cleared.
The situation worsened after Khaira accused the CM of attending the session under the influence, prompting Bajwa’s demand for testing all members. Congress MLAs rushed to the well of the House and continued protesting even after the CM’s exit.
Notably, no MLAs from the BJP or Shiromani Akali Dal were present during the proceedings.
Punjab BJP Holds a Parallel Session
The Punjab BJP is conducting its own parallel session—titled Janata Di Vidhan Sabha (The People's Assembly)—running concurrently with the Punjab Legislative Assembly session. The session is being held in Sector 37, Chandigarh, where various issues concerning Punjab are being discussed. State President Sunil Jakhar, Executive State President Ashwani Sharma, and National General Secretary Tarun Chugh are present at the session.
Meanwhile, Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar claimed in Chandigarh that during a pre-session Cabinet meeting, two ministers and the Chief Secretary were allegedly humiliated. However, he did not name those involved, and there has been no official response from the government or AAP so far.
