Chandigarh, March 11: The Punjab Vidhan Sabha descended into chaos on Wednesday as the ruling Aam Aadmi Party and Congress legislators clashed over controversial statements attributed to MLA Sukhpal Khaira.
The shouting match between the two sides forced the Speaker to adjourn the Zero Hour proceedings for thirty minutes as order could not be restored on the floor.
Finance Minister Harpal Cheema initiated the confrontation during Zero Hour, voicing a strong objection to remarks allegedly made by Khaira regarding women beneficiaries of government schemes.
Cheema asserted that the Congress leader had used derogatory language and referred to citizens as “bonded labourers,” a term the Minister declared was an affront to the dignity of the state’s residents.
The Finance Minister maintained that such conduct was unacceptable within the legislative framework. He urged the Assembly to take the strictest possible action, suggesting that Khaira’s membership as an MLA should be cancelled to address the perceived insult to women. Cheema declared that an unconditional apology was the only way to rectify the offense caused by the statements.
The session was marked by heavy pandemonium as AAP members accused the Congress of shielding Khaira despite the nature of his comments. The opposition benches responded with a move to bring a condemnation resolution against Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, further intensifying the friction within the House.
