Harpal Singh Cheema moves motion over alleged unparliamentary remarks and disruption; Congress walks out amid confrontation over drugs and the killing of activist Parvinder Singh Jhota
CHANDIGARH, The Punjab Vidhan Sabha on Friday suspended Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira for the remainder of the ongoing session after Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema moved a motion accusing him of using unparliamentary language, disregarding the authority of the Speaker and disrupting proceedings. The motion was passed after Congress legislators had walked out of the House, intensifying the confrontation between the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Opposition during the Assembly’s second day of proceedings. Cheema argued that the alleged remarks were not merely a breach of legislative decorum but also an affront to the dignity of Punjab’s working class and Scheduled Caste community. He said elected representatives had a responsibility to respect the contribution of labourers and other working people to the state’s development, and maintained that no individual should be demeaned on the basis of caste, social standing or economic background. The controversy unfolded against the backdrop of a heated protest by Congress legislators, who entered the Well of the House and raised slogans demanding Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s resignation over the killing of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota in Mansa. Congress members, led by Leader of the Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa and Punjab Congress president Pargat Singh, also sought to draw attention to the state’s law-and-order situation and the government’s handling of drugs and gangsterism. The Speaker, Kultar Singh Sandhwan, repeatedly urged members to maintain order and allow proceedings to continue. The confrontation escalated as ruling-party and Opposition legislators exchanged slogans, while Congress members pressed the Speaker to accept their “Laanat Patra” or “Letter of Shame”, accusing the AAP government of failing to address Punjab’s major concerns. The Congress eventually staged a walkout. With Opposition members absent, Cheema moved the motion against Khaira, citing his alleged conduct during the protest and what the minister described as disrespect towards the Chair. The House subsequently approved Khaira’s suspension for the remaining sittings of the session, which is scheduled to continue until October 27. Cheema also sought a condemnation motion against the Congress over the alleged language and conduct at the centre of the controversy. Khaira rejected the allegations against him and questioned why action was being taken against him. According to reports, he accused the AAP government of political vendetta and referred to a Supreme Court stay on proceedings in the Fazilka NDPS case in June 2024. His objections and the government’s allegations remain competing political positions; the Assembly’s suspension decision concerned his conduct during the House proceedings. The episode exposed the growing divide between the AAP government and Congress over responsibility for Punjab’s drug crisis. The Opposition has accused the Mann government of failing to control drugs and criminal activity, while AAP leaders have countered by pointing to the record of previous governments and accusing their critics of political inconsistency. The killing of Jhota, who had campaigned against drugs, has become a particularly charged issue, with Congress demanding accountability and the government facing pressure to demonstrate that the case is being handled effectively. The suspension of Khaira has added a fresh flashpoint to an already tense session, raising questions about legislative discipline, the space available for Opposition protest and the ability of the House to debate issues affecting the state. While the ruling side has defended the motion as necessary to protect the dignity and functioning of the Assembly, the Opposition has framed its protest around the government’s accountability on law and order. With the session due to resume before October 27, the confrontation is likely to remain closely linked to the wider political contest over drugs, public safety and the performance of the Mann government.
