As the Punjab Vidhan Sabha’s three-day monsoon session kicked off on Monday, it was clear that the proceedings would be anything but ordinary. The session, which commenced with a respectful two-minute silence for distinguished figures, including Padma Shri awardee Surjit Patar, quickly turned into a battleground of political contention. Opposition sharply criticized the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Government for convening a notably brief session, despite its previous advocacy for longer sessions during its time in opposition against the Congress regime.
The session, initially planned to last only three days, faced sharp criticism from the Opposition, with Bajwa registering his dissatisfaction with the brief duration during the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting, held prior to the session. During the meeting, Bajwa had urged for a minimum of 10 days for the session.
Even though the duration has not been increased, the Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan decided to extend the session by one additional sitting. Monday’s sitting, which was to be adjourned for the day after paying tributes to those who have passed during the intervening period of the two sessions, witnessed an additional sitting. As per the revised agenda for the day, it included only a Zero Hour discussion, calling attention notices, and departmental reports, with no formal business scheduled. The day’s proceedings ended after little over an hour.
The session’s first day saw the Opposition targeting the AAP Government on multiple fronts, demanding accountability for unresolved issues such as the prolonged delay in prosecuting the Dera Sacha Sauda chief, the controversial interview of ‘jailed’ Lawrence Bishnoi, rampant illegal mining, pollution, law and order, agriculture, among many others — placing it under intense scrutiny.
The debate over the session’s duration took center stage as the Leader of Opposition and Congress MLA from Qadian Partap Singh Bajwa proposed extending it to be of 10 days at least to ensure all 117 members have adequate time to address their constituencies’ issues. He argued that with each legislator needing at least 10 minutes, the session should be extended by eight to nine days.
Echoing the same sentiment, Congress MLA from Bholath Sukhpal Singh Khaira emphasized the urgent need for extended sittings to address pressing concerns such as law and order, agricultural issues, and unresolved cases like the Bargari sacrilege incident. He reminded AAP leaders how they used to demand longer sessions when AAP was principal opposition during Congress-led Government.
Bajwa, outside the House, accused the Speaker of revealing that the government had minimal business to address. In a pointed critique, Bajwa remarked, “If the government has no business to conduct, then like the youth of Punjab who are forced to seek opportunities abroad, the Government should also consider closing the Assembly and heading home.”
“During their time in opposition, AAP had consistently advocated for longer sessions, yet the current government has only managed 39 sittings in its two and a half years, falling short of the recommended 40 annual sittings as per legislative norms,” he pointed.
Bajwa further criticized the government's handling of law and order issues, citing the controversial interview of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi by the CIA staff, which he argued contradicts the Chief Minister’s claims of no such interview taking place. He also pointed to ongoing farmer protests in Chandigarh, lamenting that the Chief Minister has yet to find time to address their grievances.
Mann vs Pargat Singh
As the session progressed, one of the most contentious issues was the long-pending approval for prosecuting the Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh. Congress MLA from Jalandhar Cantt Pragat Singh raised concerns over the lack of progress on the said file pertaining to pending prosecution against Dera chief. He pointed out that despite being filed two and a half years ago, approval for proceeding with the case has yet to be granted.
Pargat Singh also highlighted severe illegal mining activities in his constituency, where deep pits have emerged despite the absence of rivers. He raised concerns about the cleaning of the Buddha Nullah and illegal mining in his constituency, pressing the government for answers.
In response, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann dismissed the allegations, asserting that he will personally address these issues during his weekly visits to Jalandhar, including an inspection with MLA Pragat Singh. Mann emphasized that, despite water and environmental issues not being key electoral concerns, his government is committed to improving the situation, including reviving old irrigation channels and ensuring clean water supply.
Mann, who claimed that he has been working on these issues even before he came to power, criticized the Central Government for merely holding press conferences without tangible solutions, urging for prompt resolution of the pressing matters.
