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Tensions flared in the Punjab Assembly on Wednesday as heated exchanges erupted between the treasury benches and Congress legislators over remarks allegedly made by Congress MLA Sukhpal Khaira concerning women beneficiaries.
The Speaker adjourned Zero Hour for half an hour as the pandemonium refused to settle.
Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Finance Minister Harpal Cheema strongly objected to Khaira’s alleged statements, accusing him of making a derogatory reference to women beneficiaries and using an inappropriate remark about “bonded labourers”.
Cheema said the comments were unacceptable and demanded an unconditional apology from the Congress leader. He also urged the Assembly to cancel Khaira’s membership as an MLA for what he described as an insult to women.
Later, the Budget was passed in the Vidhan Sabha after a four-hour debate. Opposition parties Congress and the BJP were absent during the discussion.
March 11, 2026 6:40 pm
Opposition parties Congress and the BJP were absent during the discussion. The only members present on the Opposition benches were BSP MLA Nachattar Pal, Independent MLA Rana Inder Pratap and rebel SAD MLA Manpreet Singh Ayali.
March 11, 2026 12:40 pm
Bains said the Centre was keeping people in the dark on the ongoing energy crisis. He warned that the NFL unit at Nangal was almost shut and blamed the situation on the government’s wrong foreign policy. Bains also urged the Centre to provide exact information on fuel and gas stocks to the public. AAP MLA Aman Sher Singh Kalsi accused the Centre-controlled media of not giving true information about the stocks of fuel and gas. Following his remarks, AAP MLAs raised slogans against the BJP-led Centre.
March 11, 2026 12:35 pm
Food and Supplies Minister Lal Chand Kataruchuk has moved a condemnation resolution against the Centre for increasing the rates of commercial LPG cylinders. He said that domestic LPG prices had been increased, and blamed the BJP-led government’s policies for causing hardship to the people.
March 11, 2026 12:30 pm
Khaira, who was not allowed to speak in the Assembly, told mediapersons outside the House that he had never insulted any woman. “I only shared a reel made by a Haryana-based YouTuber, Dhanoa. The ‘spin doctors’ of AAP have twisted facts to write their own script against me and the Congress,” Khaira said.
March 11, 2026 12:25 pm
Bajwa has demanded that a condemnation resolution be brought against CM Bhagwant Mann for his disparaging comments against women. The Opposition is set to move the resolution shortly, where they have accused the CM of using words like “Patola,” “tuhadi bhabi” and “bharind,” Bajwa told mediapersons outside the House. The Leader of Opposition also criticised the AAP government’s claims of focusing on education and health, pointing out that neither the CM’s children go to government schools nor do ruling party leaders rely on government healthcare for treatment. “I wish good health to the CM, but he himself seeks treatment at a private hospital,” said Bajwa.
March 11, 2026 12:07 pm
Punjab Education Minister Minister Harjot Bains said the “feudal mindset” of the Congress was responsible for the irresponsible statements, calling it shameful to refer to the Finance Minister as a “bonded labourer”.
March 11, 2026 12:00 pm
AAP women MLAs also stepped out of the House to confront Congress MLAs, and reiterated that the opposition has disrespected women.
March 11, 2026 11:57 am
Tensions escalated in the Punjab Assembly between AAP and Congress MLAs over Khaira’s remarks. Congress MLAs walked into the well of the House after the Speaker refused to allow Khaira to present his side of the story, saying he has to apologise first. In protest, Congress staged a walkout. AAP Minister Aman Arora accused the Congress of double standards, saying the issue reflected a “Congress mindset”.
March 11, 2026 11:38 am
Punjab Assembly resumes proceedings for Zero Hour after half-hour adjournment.
March 11, 2026 11:23 am
In protest, treasury bench MLA’s marched into the well of the House against Khaira, raising slogans. Following the disruption, the House was adjourned for half an hour.
March 11, 2026 11:23 am
Congree Legislature Party (CLP) leader Partap Singh Bajwa argued that statements made outside the Assembly cannot be taken cognizance of and demanded a condemnation resolution against the Chief Minister for his remarks during Women’s Day in Ludhiana. Bajwa read out the resolution, but the Speaker refused to admit it, accusing the Congress of deflecting attention from Khaira’s remarks.
March 11, 2026 11:13 am
During Zero Hour, Finance Minister Harpal Cheema raised the issue of Congress MLA Sukhpal Khaira’s remarks referring to women beneficiaries, triggering heated arguments between the treasury benches and Congress MLAs. Cheema slammed Khaira over his “bonded labourer” comment. The Finance Minister demanded an unconditional apology from the Congress and sought cancellation of Khaira’s membership as an MLA.
March 11, 2026 10:43 am
Congress MLA Sukhpal Khaira has reached the Vidhan Sabha in Chandigarh as the session gets under way.
