Khaira & Mann Remarks Distract Assembly Session; 'Sarpanch' Held with Drugs

A political slugfest erupted between Panjab’s ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Indian National Congress (INC) over women's dignity after a social media post by INC Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) leader Sukhpal Singh Khaira; it sparked controversy and drew sharp reactions from the treasury benches. The budget had allotted USD 10.8 (INR 1K) to every adult woman and USD 16 (INR 1.5K) to Scheduled Caste women. AAP advertised the scheme by showing women dancing. Khaira said on social media, 'How can women who are made to perform Giddha (popular folk dance) for just INR 1K be expected to raise brave sons?' Khaira also criticized Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann over remarks made during a Women's Day event in Ludhiana, where Mann narrated an anecdote from his college days about a one-sided crush—a story that drew laughter from the audience but also triggered political reactions. In another social media post Khaira also called the AAP MLAs bandhua mazdoor (bonded labor) implying they followed the AAP central command in Delhi’s diktats. On 12 Mar, the Treasury benches led by Finance Minister Harpal Cheema moved a resolution to refer the conduct of Khaira to the Special Privileges Committee of the House. The resolution was supported by MLA Sukhwinder Kumar Sukhi. Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa also sought the Speaker’s reply on a condemnation notice moved against the Chief Minister for his remarks on women. It is after a long time in the last four years that the Panjab Legislative Assembly had scheduled a multi-day session but these distractions robbed it of dialogue on the real issues of Panjab. Meanwhile, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has arrested the AAP-backed sarpanch (village council head) Paramjit Singh alias Pamma of Kalsian Kalan village, Tarn Taran district and seized 18 kg heroin, worth nearly USD 10M. Bajwa said, 'This shocking incident exposes the deep nexus between those in power and the drug trade… It raises serious questions about the credibility of the government’s claims of eliminating drugs from Panjab’ (earlier coverage).