11-Minute Session Sparks Outrage: Opposition Slams 'PR Stunt' as Public Funds Burned

The much-anticipated special two-day session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha turned into a political farce on its first day on Thursday as it was adjourned within a mere 11 minutes — without any legislative business, debate, or deliberation on the state’s pressing issues. What was projected as a session to tackle grave concerns like law and order, the land pooling controversy, and sacrilege legislation ended in a tribute ceremony, leaving the Opposition fuming and the public questioning the purpose of the Assembly.

The brief session was held to pay obituary tributes to those who have passed away during the intervening period of the two sessions. However, opposition leaders, and even sections of the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) admitted that the abrupt adjournment was a wasted opportunity and a staggering misuse of state resources. By conservative estimates, the state exchequer bore a cost of nearly Rs one crore for Thursday's 11-minute sitting — amounting to Rs 9.09 lakh per minute.

The House did pay tributes to departed figures, including Abohar businessman Sanjay Verma — recently murdered by gangsters of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, former Union Minister Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Tarn Taran MLA Dr Kashmir Singh Sohal, litterateur Dr Rattan Singh Jaggi, three martyrs of the Indian Army, and also the victims of the Ahmedabad plane crash. However, what followed wasn’t a continuation of the session after the customary break, but an outright adjournment for the day.

A Mockery of the Assembly, Says Opposition

Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa described the 11-minute session as a “mockery of democracy” and accused the AAP Government of reducing the Assembly to a mere stage for PR theatrics. “The special session was not just a waste of time — it was an insult to democratic processes and to every citizen who pays taxes,” said Bajwa, slamming the government for staging a symbolic event instead of engaging in real governance.

According to bureaucratic insiders, the logistics, security arrangements, staff mobilization, and related infrastructure for holding an Assembly session run into lakhs per minute. With no legislative business conducted, critics argued that the 11-minute session cost the state dearly while delivering nothing in return.

“This government is now running the Assembly like an event management company — complete with lights, script, and stage but no substance,” said senior Congress MLA and former hockey Olympian Pargat Singh. “They keep us and the media busy with gimmicks while they duck the real issues.”

The special session was widely expected to feature intensive discussion on Punjab’s worsening law and order situation, particularly in the wake of Sanjay Verma’s broad daylight murder, and the controversial land pooling scheme being opposed by farmers across the State. Instead, Opposition MLAs were left blindsided.

Bajwa revealed that the Opposition had formally requested the Speaker to extend the session’s duration and dedicate one day each to discuss law and order and land acquisition. However, no such provision was made.

Even the much-talked-about sacrilege Bill — supposedly the key reason for convening the session — remained a mystery. “We haven’t even received a draft copy of the Bill,” Bajwa said, adding, “If the government was serious, they would have circulated it to us in advance for study.”

He also claimed that the Bill was being drafted not in Chandigarh, but in Delhi, implying central interference via Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. “This is not governance — it’s remote-controlled politics,” he said.

BJP, Congress Slam Law and Order Collapse

Echoing Bajwa, BJP MLA Ashwani Sharma said that the government had failed on every count—especially in ensuring the safety of traders, who are increasingly becoming targets of extortion and killings. “A businessman is shot dead in broad daylight, and the Assembly doesn't even talk about it,” Sharma said. “What kind of governance is this?”

Opposition MLAs widely agreed that the AAP government is resorting to distractions to cover up administrative failures. “Every time there's a crisis, they create a new 'event' to shift public attention,” said Congress MLA Pargat Singh. “Today it’s a 10-minute Assembly. Tomorrow it’ll be another Bill. But where’s the governance?”

The Opposition also accused the government of hiding behind public spectacle to push through unpopular policies like the land pooling scheme. Bajwa claimed that CM Mann initially resisted signing the Land Pooling Bill and only did so under pressure. “If it was such a good Bill, why were powers handed over to the Chief Secretary?” he asked. “That officer retires in 2027. Who will be held accountable then?”

House Paid Tributes to Abohar Businessman; Ahmedabad crash victims

Vidhan Sabha, during its 11-minute sitting, opened its special session by paying heartfelt tributes to several individuals who passed away since the previous Assembly session. Leading the list was Abohar-based businessman Sanjay Verma, whose recent broad daylight murder by gangsters linked to the Lawrence Bishnoi syndicate sent shockwaves across Punjab, especially the Malwa region. The inclusion of Verma’s name in the obituary list was proposed by Balluana MLA Amandeep Singh Musafir and supported across party lines.

The House also paid homage to 260 passengers who lost their lives in the tragic June 2025 Ahmedabad plane crash — an unprecedented civil aviation disaster that left the nation in mourning—on the request of Cabinet Minister Aman Arora.

Other individuals remembered included former Union Minister and a prominent political figure Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, sitting MLA from Tarn Taran Dr Kashmir Singh Sohal – who passed away recently; the celebrated Punjabi litterateur and scholar Dr Rattan Singh Jaggi; along with martyrs Naik Surinder Singh, Lance Naik Baljit Singh, and Lance Naik Gurpreet Singh – who laid down their lives in service of the nation. A two-minute silence was observed in solemn remembrance of the departed souls, with the Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan adjourning the session till 10 am Friday.

CM, Majithia’s Wife Absent

Conspicuously absent from the brief session were Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and several of his Cabinet colleagues. Also missing was Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) MLA Ganieve Kaur Majithia, whose husband and senior SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia is in judicial custody in a disproportionate assets case. Only 11 Congress MLAs were present.

What the Opposition Said

“An 11-minute session costing Rs one crore is a fraud on democracy. The government doesn't want debate, only photo-ops. They haven't shared the sacrilege Bill draft, proving this is just a PR stunt” - Partap Singh Bajwa (Congress)

“This is how AAP functions — create an event, distract from the real issue, and move on. They’re dodging real accountability” - Pargat Singh (Congress)

“Businessmen are being murdered, and yet law and order is off the Assembly agenda. Traders aren’t safe in Punjab under AAP rule” - Ashwani Sharma (BJP)

“Police are staging fake encounters instead of ensuring real justice. The government is hiding behind flashy headlines” -  Sukhpal Khaira (Congress)