Punjab Assembly: Stopped from entering House, Congress MLAs allege; stage protest

Stormy scenes were witnessed on the last day of the Punjab Assembly session, as Congress MLAs raised slogans against the AAP government outside the House, alleging that they were prevented from entering the Assembly, even as ruling and opposition MLAs engaged in a war of words.

During the Question Hour, Leader of Opposition (LoP) and senior Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa claimed that the Congress MLAs had been stopped from entering the House. "Do you want to run the House this way?" he asked the Speaker.

Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan said nobody should be stopped except those who faced action, referring to Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira, who had been suspended for allegedly using derogatory language against the Chair.

Unhappy over the Speaker's response, Mr. Bajwa walked out.

Outside the House, the Congress MLAs raised slogans against the AAP government.

Later, AAP MLA Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal sought action against the Congress MLAs, accusing them of pushing him while entering the House. "An atmosphere of 'gundagardi' (hooliganism) is prevailing outside the House," he alleged.

Speaker Sandhwan then asked Dhaliwal to give in writing, assuring an action in the matter.

Ahead of the day's proceedings, the Congress MLAs also burnt brooms, AAP's poll symbol.

Outside the Assembly, heated verbal exchanges were witnessed between some Congress MLAs and ruling AAP members.

Mr. Bajwa told reporters that by burning brooms, the Congress members were extending solidarity with Jhota's family. He also said Jhota's family has demanded Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's resignation and Congress supports that demand.

Referring to upcoming Punjab polls, Mr. Bajwa said people will give "fatwa" against the "anti-people government".

AAP MLA Kuldeep Dhaliwal, while speaking to media persons, targeted Congress members, saying they do not allow the House proceedings to run smoothly and slammed the opposition party over other issues, too, including anti-Sikh riots.

As Mr. Dhaliwal was addressing the media outside the Assembly, though within the Vidhan Sabha building complex, he told the Congress members to go outside the Assembly complex to address the media and not jostle with his party MLAs.

Later, Mr. Bajwa targeted the AAP government, saying CM Mann and his party do not want Congress members to be present inside the House and take part in discussions.

State Congress chief Pargat Singh also targeted the ruling party and tore a copy of the land pooling policy, saying "it is anti-farmers".

The Congress members also tore the notice suspending Mr. Khaira from the House.

In a post on X, Partap Bajwa said, "The 'Jhaaru' (AAP poll symbol), once projected by @AAPPunjab as a symbol of hope, has become an epitome of anarchy in Punjab."

"The murder of Parminder Jhota and the deteriorating law and order situation expose the failure of the @BhagwantMann government to protect lives," Mr. Bajwa said.