Punjab Assembly Condemns Congress MLA's Social Media Post on Women's Aid Scheme
The Punjab Assembly on Tuesday passed a resolution strongly condemning a social media post made by Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira. The post was related to the Rs 1,000 monthly financial assistance for women announced by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in the state budget.
Finance Minister Criticizes Congress for 'Insulting Women'
Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema led the charge against the Congress party, accusing them of insulting women through Khaira's remarks. Cheema raised the issue during the question hour, which sparked immediate protests from AAP benches. The situation escalated to the point where Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan was forced to adjourn the House for half an hour to restore order.
Opposition Leader Apologizes as Khaira Defends His Stand
Leader of the Opposition Pratap Singh Bajwa issued an apology on behalf of the Congress, stating that Khaira was not present in the House at the time. Bajwa informed the Assembly that he had spoken with Khaira, who was out of town, and that the MLA would appear on Wednesday to clarify his position. However, Khaira later posted a video on X (formerly Twitter) defending his actions. He argued that he had merely quoted a YouTuber who commented on women dancing in celebration of the stipend announcement.
Voice Vote Conducted Amidst Congressional Silence
Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan conducted a voice vote to pass the resolution condemning Khaira's post. Initially, when the motion was put to vote, most Congress MLAs remained silent. The speaker repeated the vote twice more, ruling that continued silence would be treated as opposition to the motion. After the third attempt, the resolution was declared adopted by the Assembly.
Background of the Controversy
The row began after Sukhpal Singh Khaira shared a Facebook video showing some women dancing to celebrate the announcement of the Rs 1,000 monthly assistance scheme. This post was perceived as derogatory and sparked widespread criticism from the ruling AAP and other quarters. The resolution passed by the Assembly reflects the ongoing political tensions in Punjab, with the AAP government emphasizing its commitment to women's welfare through this budgetary provision.
The incident highlights the sensitive nature of discussions around gender and social schemes in Indian politics. It also underscores the role of social media in amplifying political controversies, leading to formal legislative actions such as this resolution.
