The Punjab Assembly witnessed chaos as opposition members called for an alcohol test for Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann during a Labour Day session.
“She corrected herself. She is not a member of the House. You even target my daughter. Ae bakwas karda yeh banda (this guy is talking nonsense),” said Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann during a tumultuous session in the Punjab Assembly on Labour Day. Opposition members erupted in chaos, demanding an alcohol test for Mann, which led to heated confrontations and multiple walkouts.
The special session, convened to honor workers on Labour Day, quickly spiraled into disorder. Mann’s objection to Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira using a mobile phone sparked the controversy. In response, Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa supported the demand for an alcohol meter test for all MLAs, including the Chief Minister.
This demand was firmly rejected by Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan, who stated that such tests were unnecessary. That context matters because it highlights ongoing political tensions between the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and opposition parties like Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Among those calling for accountability was BJP leader Sunil Jakhar, who argued that if someone enters a temple or gurudwara under the influence of alcohol, it’s contempt and disrespect. The situation escalated as Congress staged a walkout amid the chaos, followed by similar actions from BJP and Akali Dal MLAs.
The assembly session culminated with the AAP government moving a confidence motion that passed unanimously, but not without significant discord. Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal accused Mann of appearing in the assembly ‘drunk’, further intensifying claims against him.
Amidst these allegations, Aman Arora from AAP condemned the opposition’s remarks as “baseless and frivolous,” arguing they undermined public trust in this esteemed institution. He emphasized that such accusations only served to add salt to the wounds of workers.
The political climate remains charged as both sides prepare for what lies ahead. The next expected development will likely involve further accusations and counter-accusations as tensions continue to simmer in Punjab’s political landscape.
