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Speaker demands apology from Khaira; Opposition accuses AAP of twisting facts.
Chandigarh: High drama continued in the Punjab Assembly on Wednesday as Congress legislators staged a walkout amid a heated confrontation with the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) over remarks allegedly made by Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira concerning women beneficiaries.
The walkout came after Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan asked Khaira to apologise before explaining his comments on women volunteers celebrating financial assistance provided under the AAP government’s schemes. Khaira refused to apologise, stating he stood by his statement, prompting Congress MLAs to leave the House in protest.
AAP Women MLAs Confront Opposition
As the Congress members exited the Assembly, several AAP women legislators followed them outside and raised slogans, accusing Khaira of disrespecting women. While Congress leaders addressed the media outside the House, AAP MLAs continued protesting nearby, intensifying the political confrontation during the ongoing Budget session.
Opposition Targets Chief Minister
Later, Congress legislators gathered at their party office inside the Vidhan Sabha, where Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa demanded that a condemnation resolution be brought against Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann over remarks he allegedly made about women.
Bajwa said the resolution accused the Chief Minister of using expressions such as “Patola”, “tuhadi bhabi” and “bharind” while addressing a group of women at a recent public event.
However, the Speaker rejected the Opposition’s condemnation resolution.
Khaira Denies Insulting Women
Responding to the controversy outside the House, Khaira denied making any derogatory remarks and accused the ruling party of misrepresenting his comments. “I have 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,” he said.
The developments led to tense scenes inside and outside the Assembly, highlighting the sharp political divide between the ruling AAP and the Opposition during the ongoing Budget session.
