Uproar in Punjab Vidhan Sabha as Cong corners AAP govt on law and order, stages a walkout

Congress leaders seek clarification from chief minister Bhagwant Mann on his video statement that his life was in danger. Speaker says CM will address the House on the issue

4 min readChandigarhJun 24, 2022 06:17 PM IST

Pratap Singh Bajwa along with other member of the Punjab Congress unit held a press conference on the law and order situation in Punjab. (Twitter/@Partap_Sbajwa)

During the first day of the budget session of the Vidhan Sabha in Punjab on Friday, the opposition Congress cornered the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government on the issue of the deteriorating law and order situation in the state and staged a walkout, along with BJP members, as the Speaker did not allow its adjournment motion.

Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan’s argument that an adjournment motion on law and order could not be allowed as the matter was “subjudice” sparked off protests during zero hour.

Earlier, members of all four opposition parties, including Congress, BJP, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), had raised slogans against the Speaker in the well of the House. While BJP joined Congress in the walkout, SAD and BSP stayed back.

At the onset of zero hour, leader of opposition Partap Singh Bajwa read out the communication by the Speaker to the Congress. “The Speaker has written to us that the adjournment motion is disallowed as the issue is subjudice. How can the entire law and order be subjudice?” Bajwa asked, demanding that the adjournment motion be allowed as the issue was of grave concern to the state.

Bajwa also sought a clarification from Leader of the House Bhagwant Mann on his video statement that his life was in danger. “I would not have sought this discussion on the law and order situation had the chief minister not said in a video that his life was in danger. If the life of the state’s chief minister is not safe, it says a lot about the state of affairs,” Bajwa said.

He added that not only politicians, but traders and businessmen were also getting threat calls. “What kind of situation is this? Our former deputy chief minister O P Soni has also received threat calls. It is a serious matter,” Bajwa pointed out.

As the sloganeering continued, Bajwa demanded that Mann address the House on the issue. Earlier, when Bajwa asked Mann to speak about the threat to his life, the chief minister was seen asking Bajwa to sit down and telling him not to waste the time of the House. Later, the Speaker announced that Mann would address the House on the issue before Saturday noon.

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Congress MLA Sukhpal Khaira seconded Bajwa and said that businessmen too were getting threat calls. “Bajwa’s concerns are not unfounded…especially after the CM claimed his life was in danger,” he said.

Congress leaders also protested the short duration of the budget session, prompting the Speaker to explain that the budget session had to be conducted before June 30 as the vote of account was only till then.

‘Experience will stay here if I am shot in the evening’

During the protests by Congress leaders seeking a discussion on the law and order situation in the state, the Speaker asked MLA Partap Singh Bajwa to ensure that the House proceedings were conducted peacefully. He requested that Bajwa should cooperate as he was an experienced leader. Bajwa, who was at his oratorial best during the session, said, “Experience will stay here if I am shot in the evening. I reckon that life is most important. I am concerned about the safety of residents of the state.”

Kanchan Vasdev

Kanchan Vasdev is a Senior Assistant Editor in The Indian Express’ Punjab bureau. She is a highly experienced journalist with 22 years of expertise covering high-stakes politics, governance, and social issues in Northern India. Professional Background Role: Primary reporter covering the Punjab Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), government policies, and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leadership in the state. Experience: She previously worked with The Tribune and has played a key role in launching various city editions. Special Projects: Abandoned Brides: Authored a monograph on brides abandoned by NRIs as part of the Prabha Dutt Memorial Fellowship. Environment: Worked as a Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) fellow, focusing on the pollution levels in the Satluj river. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent reporting focuses on the legislative strategies and political maneuvers of the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government: 1. Legislative & Governance Standoffs "Punjab govt advances special Assembly session to pass resolution against VB-G RAM G Bill" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on the state's move to block the Centre's "Viksit Bharat" mission, which the state claims will undermine MGNREGA. "Punjab govt doubles down on special sessions, sixth in January" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing the AAP government's use of special sessions as a legislative tool amid tensions with the Governor. "Punjab asks 'VIP teachers' working near Chandigarh to go back to border districts" (Dec 16, 2025): Reporting on CM Mann's move to end the practice of influential teachers avoiding postings in remote areas. 2. Political Analysis & Rural Polls "Punjab rural polls: Why Akalis are likened to dinosaurs in Punjab" (Dec 19, 2025): Analyzing CM Bhagwant Mann's rhetoric against the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) following local body elections. "AAP claims win in 78% Punjab zila parishads as counting continues" (Dec 18, 2025): Breaking down the results of the 2025 rural elections. "Rahul Gandhi and Sidhu alike, says Bhagwant Mann" (Dec 13, 2025): Covering the CM's critique of the Congress leadership. 3. Law Enforcement & Bureaucracy "Suspended Punjab IPS officer Ravjot Kaur Grewal awaits reinstatement" (Dec 10, 2025): Investigative reporting on the bureaucratic red tape involving the Election Commission and the state government. "Punjab declines to give parole to Amritpal Singh" (Nov 27, 2025): Detailing the state government's refusal to grant parole to the radical preacher and sitting MP. 4. Welfare & Economy "Punjab government's plan to add more freebies to 'atta-dal' scheme hits funds roadblock" (Dec 4, 2024): An analysis of the fiscal challenges facing the state's flagship food security program. "Mann leads Punjab delegation to Japan and South Korea for investor outreach" (Dec 2, 2025). Signature Beat Kanchan Vasdev is known for her insider access to Punjab's political executive. Her writing provides deep insights into how state policies are formulated and the friction points between the state government and central authorities. Her dual expertise in environment and law allows her to report on complex issues like the "Farmhouse Policy" (Dec 18, 2025) and river pollution with a unique policy-oriented lens. X (Twitter): @kanchan99 ... Read More

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