Punjab Vidhan Sabha on Monday witnessed high drama as the Congress MLAs staged two walkouts in protest against Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan for not allowing their colleague, Sukhpal Singh Khaira, to speak. The session, which was meant for a debate on the crucial issue and also the Governor Gulab Chand Kataria’s address to the House, soon turned into a battlefield of fiery exchanges, with verbal clashes between opposition leaders and ruling party Ministers dominating the proceedings with the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann conspicuous by his absence.
The tension first erupted when Bholath MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira sought permission to speak during Zero Hour, but the Speaker Sandhwan ignored his request, and allowed other legislators to raise their issues. When no less than seven MLAs were allowed to speak, Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa pointed out to the Speaker that he has been continuously ignoring his fellow MLA Khaira who wanted to raise valid and important issues.
Refusing again, the Speaker said that it was his prerogative to decide who gets to address the House as all the members are entitled to raise their issue.
Bajwa and senior Congress leader Pargat Singh backed Khaira, urging the Speaker to allow him to raise farmer-related issues. However, Sandhwan stood firm, asserting, “You cannot dictate the Chair.” In response, Khaira shot back, “You cannot intimidate us…We won’t be silenced.” He went on to accuse the Speaker of working with the policy of “hatred” towards the opposition.
Asking the Speaker “not to mislead the House”, Pargat Singh said: “You are not a dictator”. Congress MLAs, alleging unfair treatment, moved to the well of the House, shouting slogans before staging a walkout. Interestingly, Khaira’s bête noire and fellow MLA Rana Gurjeet Singh and Hardev Singh Laddi choose not to join the party’s walkout initially, but left the House briefly to return to their seats. Suspended Congress MLA Sandeep Jakhar also remain seated.
The turmoil only intensified when Khaira attempted to speak again, during discussion on the Governor’s address, but was denied permission for the second time, prompting another Congress walkout.
The session turned confrontational when Khaira, angered by the repeated denials, accused the Speaker of bias. “The Speaker is the custodian of the House, not a dictator,” he fumed, alleging that the opposition was being systematically silenced. Sandhwan shot back, asserting, “You cannot dictate the chair. It is my prerogative whom to allow to speak.” The situation turned more volatile when Congress MLA Pargat Singh, echoing Khaira's concerns, accused the AAP Government of running the Assembly like an autocratic regime.
Congress MLAs continued their protest outside the Assembly, where Khaira lambasted the Speaker for his alleged mistreatment of opposition legislators. “This is not the first time such behaviour has been meted out to us. Pargat Singh was denied a chance to speak last week, and today, it was me. This is a blatant attempt to muzzle dissenting voices,” he alleged.
Khaira alleged that he had been denied the opportunity to speak in the Assembly for over a year.
Bajwa vs Dhaliwal: Sparks Fly Over Farmer Crackdown, Assault on Colonel
The proceedings became even more contentious when Partap Singh Bajwa took on Rural Development Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal over the Punjab Police’s actions against farmers and the recent assault on an Army Colonel in Patiala. Bajwa accused the government of deceiving farmers by luring them into meetings and then detaining them. “Over 135 trolleys belonging to farmers have been seized. The AAP government invited them for discussions, only to arrest them later,” Bajwa alleged.
He also raised concerns over the Patiala incident, where an Army Colonel was allegedly assaulted, and his turban was removed. “How could such an act take place in a Sikh-majority state? This is an insult to Punjab’s honour,” he said.
Objecting, Minister Dhaliwal accused Bajwa of misleading the House. “Who invited the farmers to the meeting? Let him clarify. The opposition is only trying to create chaos by distorting facts,” Dhaliwal retorted. Responding, Bajwa asked, “Who ordered the farmers’ detention? Who ordered removal of their tents?”
The debate further escalated when Bajwa brought up the Union Home Minister Amit Shah's recent remark in Parliament about a prisoner reading Guru Granth Sahib in jail. Bajwa called for a resolution against the statement, arguing that the Sikh holy scripture is not kept inside prison cells. In response, BJP leaders defended Shah, urging the critics to consider the context of his statement.
Amid the ruckus, Speaker Sandhwan stated that Guru Granth Sahib belongs to all and should be discussed with respect.
Punjab’s Core Issues Missing from Gov Address: Congress
The Governor’s address to the Punjab Assembly also triggered a storm of reactions, with Congress leaders slamming the AAP Government for ignoring key issues. Former Sports Minister and Congress MLA from Jalandhar Cantonment Pargat Singh questioned why Punjab’s core issues, including water-sharing disputes and the economic crisis, were missing from the Governor’s address. “They mentioned the Malwa Canal, but what have they actually done? Even after three years, AAP has failed to deliver an agricultural policy,” he charged. He also raised concerns over illegal sand mining, claiming, “Even in my constituency, where there is no river, illegal mining is rampant. Where is the action?”
Pargat Singh also questioned the unprecedented security arrangements for AAP national convenor and Delhi’s former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. “Why does Kejriwal need security from Punjab Police? Under whose orders has this been granted?” he asked.
Participating in the discussion, Bajwa took a dig at the AAP Government accusing it of reducing Punjab to a “Kangla Punjab” (destitute Punjab). “They promised to make Punjab ‘Rangla’ (prosperous), but instead, they have pushed it towards financial ruin,” he said.
BJP MLA from Pathankot Ashwani Sharma criticized the AAP Government’s handling of rural development funds (RDF). “Our roads and village link roads are in terrible condition. If the state is so financially stable, why hasn’t RDF been released?” he asked. Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh assured that the government was working on securing RDF funds and was ready to engage with the Centre on the matter.
Independent MLA Manvinder Singh Giaspura lauded AAP Government for transferring gangster Jaggu Bhagwanpuria to Assam’s jail, breaking his criminal nexus. “Previously, Congress leaders celebrated criminals; now, we are cracking down on them,” he remarked.
Bajwa Demands white paper on Govt’s job claims
Bajwa, speaking during the zero hour, questioned the government’s claim of providing over 52,000 jobs over the past three years. He demanded a white paper listing details of these recruitments, including the names, addresses, and departments of those hired, besides mentioning whether the appointee is Punjabi or a non-Punjabi. “We should know the truth in these claims and which district’s youth has been given jobs,” he added.
Approach Road to Ghanauli Thermal Plant to Be Upgraded
Public Works Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO assured the House that the approach road to Guru Gobind Singh Super Thermal Plant in Ghanauli will soon be upgraded. He also confirmed that a high-level meeting with all stakeholders will be held to resolve the issue. The Minister, responding to a call attention notice, said that the thermal plant currently has two access roads, of which the residents are facing issue with the second access route is a 5.9 km-long, 22-foot-wide link road due to heavy vehicle traffic, frequent accidents, and dust pollution. The Minister assured that discussions are ongoing with local authorities and PWD to finalize a safer and more efficient commercial route for the thermal plant’s transport vehicles.
Punjab Plans to Develop Bathinda Lakes into Tourism Hub
Punjab is taking active steps to conserve and restore historical monuments and tourist attractions across the state, with Bathinda lakes being a potential new addition to the tourism map. Tourism and Cultural Affairs Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond, while addressing a query, said that if Bathinda district authorities submit a formal proposal, the Government will prioritize the development of Bathinda lakes as a tourism and food hub. Earlier, MLA Jagroop Singh Gill raised concerns about the potential of Bathinda lakes, following which the Minister assured that a detailed proposal from the Deputy Commissioner would be acted upon promptly. Speaker Sandhwan also highlighted Punjab’s rich natural beauty, including its mountains, rivers, and historical sites, and suggested that a well-planned initiative be undertaken to position Punjab as a prime tourist destination.
Punjab Accelerates Swamitva Scheme to Grant Ownership Rights in Rural Areas
Punjab’s ‘Mera Ghar Mere Naam’ (Swamitva) scheme, aimed at granting ownership rights to residents of Lal Dora areas in rural villages, is progressing steadily and is expected to be completed by next year, said Revenue and Rehabilitation Minister Hardip Singh Mundian, responding to a query by Amargarh MLA Prof Jaswant Singh Gajjanmajra. The Minister clarified that Swamitva is a Central Government initiative designed to provide property rights to residents in village settlements that traditionally lacked formal ownership documentation. The scheme also aims to digitize land records and create GIS-based maps of rural areas. The Minister assured that the government is committed to resolving land ownership disputes and streamlining property documentation for villagers.
Efforts to Provide Irrigation Water to Nurpur Bedi’s Hilly Areas in Full Swing
Punjab government is making concerted efforts to ensure irrigation water reaches 75 villages in Nurpur Bedi block of Ropar district. Water Resources Minister Barindar Kumar Goyal informed the House that the feasibility study for the project is currently under review, and necessary action will be taken soon. Goyal, in response to a question by Ropar MLA Dinesh Kumar Chadha, said that two agencies have submitted Expressions of Interest (EOI) for the project, and their proposals are being examined by a committee of senior engineers. Once the technical feasibility and financial viability are determined, the project will be forwarded to the Central Water Commission (CWC) for approval.
