A session of the Punjab Legislative Assembly descended into chaos on Tuesday as Congress legislator Sukhpal Singh Khaira was forcibly removed from the House after repeatedly interrupting Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's address. The dramatic event unfolded amidst protests over speaking time and culminated in a sharp verbal clash between the Chief Minister and the Leader of the Opposition.
Disruption and Removal from the House
The incident began when Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann stood up to speak in the Assembly. Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira immediately rose from his seat, demanding to know why he had not been given an opportunity to speak on a resolution concerning the Governor. The Speaker intervened, urging Khaira to take his seat and allow the Chief Minister to proceed, noting that Khaira had already spoken earlier in the session.
Ignoring the Speaker's directives, Sukhpal Singh Khaira walked into the well of the House, directly disrupting the Chief Minister's speech. Following this act of protest, the Speaker formally "named" Khaira, a parliamentary procedure that precedes disciplinary action. Watch and ward staff were then directed to escort the Congress MLA out of the chamber.
As the staff attempted to remove Khaira, several other Congress MLAs entered the well in a show of solidarity, further intensifying the commotion on the floor of the House.
Heated Exchange Between CM Mann and LoP Bajwa
The removal of Khaira set the stage for a tense confrontation between Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa. Mann criticized the Congress legislators, stating that while they often demand longer assembly sessions, they cannot maintain decorum during a four-hour discussion. He also took a swipe at Khaira, attributing his actions to frustration. "It is (his) frustration as his party does not give him time to speak. Even the Congress doesn't want him to speak," Mann remarked.
When the Chief Minister asked Bajwa to resume his seat, the LoP retorted sharply, asking, "Who are you?" Mann fired back with a pointed political reply, asking, "Didn't you get to know who I am in 2022 (last assembly elections)? Didn't you get to know in 2024 (Lok Sabha polls) and later the zila parishad elections?" He further accused Congress leaders of being overly eager for political positions.
In his defense, Partap Singh Bajwa later stated that Sukhpal Singh Khaira's name was at the top of the list of Congress speakers for the day, implying he was rightfully expecting his turn.
Aftermath and Accusations
Following the adjournment, the war of words continued outside the Assembly. In an official press release, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann labeled Sukhpal Singh Khaira a "power-hungry politician" seeking attention. He accused the MLA of staging "cheap tantrums" to grab media spotlight, especially during times of speculated leadership changes within his party. Mann asserted that Khaira was more focused on personal publicity than on raising issues concerning Punjab and its people, which led him to violate the assembly's decorum.
The Speaker provided context on the time allocation, clarifying that the Congress party had actually been allowed 28.52 minutes to speak against an allotted time of 16 minutes. He emphasized that it was not necessary for every member to speak on every single issue discussed in the House.
This episode highlights the ongoing political tensions in the Punjab Assembly, where procedural disagreements frequently escalate into major confrontations, disrupting legislative business.
