Opposition raises law-and-order concerns; AAP highlights welfare schemes and development achievements for 2026–27
Chandigarh The budget session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha began on a stormy note on Friday, with the opposition Indian National Congress staging protests and walking out during the inaugural address of Governor Gulab Chand Kataria.
The session, which is the final budget session of the current government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann before the completion of the Assembly’s term, opened with the customary address by the Governor in the presence of the Chief Minister and Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan.
During his address, Kataria outlined several welfare schemes and policy initiatives undertaken by the Aam Aadmi Party government over the past year. Among the key highlights was the payment of ₹9,992 crore in power subsidies to the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited during the current financial year, including free electricity to agricultural pump sets.
The Governor also announced the continuation of the state’s food support programme for 2026–27, under which eligible households will receive free rations every quarter, including 2 kg each of dal and sugar, 1 kg each of salt and mustard oil, and 200 grams of turmeric.
In the healthcare sector, the government highlighted the success of 881 operational Aam Aadmi Clinics that have collectively recorded more than 4.9 crore outpatient visits. The government also plans to set up 240 additional clinics. The Governor said that under the Mukh Mantri Punjab Cancer Rahat Kosh, more than 74,000 patients have received assistance amounting to ₹957 crore for cashless cancer treatment of up to ₹1.5 lakh per patient.
Further, the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna now provides health insurance coverage of up to ₹10 lakh per family annually.
In the education sector, the government has recruited 13,765 teachers since 2022 and established 29 Schools of Eminence to improve academic standards. The address also highlighted agricultural and rural initiatives, including subsidies for Bt cotton seeds, promotion of direct seeding of rice, distribution of crop residue management machinery, and the increase in the state-advised price of sugarcane to ₹416 per quintal.
On the economic front, the government claimed that investment proposals worth ₹1.5 lakh crore have been received, which could generate around 5.3 lakh jobs. The state is also preparing to host the Progressive Punjab Summit 2026 to attract further investments.
However, the Governor’s speech was disrupted soon after it began when Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa objected to what he described as the deteriorating law-and-order situation in the state. Bajwa cited recent incidents of killings and the rising drug menace, accusing the government of failing to fulfil the promises it made after winning a massive mandate in the 2022 Assembly elections.
Despite repeated appeals from the Governor to raise the issues during the discussion on the address, Congress MLAs moved into the well of the House and raised slogans against the government. Within 17 minutes of the session beginning, the entire Congress contingent staged a walkout, boycotting the rest of the Governor’s address.
In response, members of the treasury benches, including Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema and state AAP president Aman Arora, criticised the opposition for disrupting the proceedings and addressed the media outside the Assembly.
Adding a dramatic touch to the day’s political tensions, AAP leaders and supporters organised a symbolic musical protest outside the Assembly premises, accompanied by a wedding band.
The 11-day session will continue in the coming days, with the state budget expected to be presented shortly amid the likelihood of further heated debates in the House.
