Chandigarh, April 29
Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa today strongly criticised the Punjab government for convening a special session of the Vidhan Sabha on May 1, alleging that the move is not aimed at public welfare but at evading legal accountability.
Bajwa said that on Labour Day—a day meant to honour the dignity and rights of workers—the government led by Bhagwant Mann has chosen to burden the state exchequer with an unnecessary Assembly session.
Bajwa stated that the session has little to do with labour welfare and instead appears designed to avoid a scheduled court appearance. “This is not governance; this is a blatant misuse of democratic institutions for personal and political convenience,” Bajwa said.
The Leader of Opposition further alleged that the Chief Minister has repeatedly shown disregard for legal processes. “Skipping court hearings since 2022 and now taking refuge behind constitutional positions reflects a dangerous mindset—one that places itself above the rule of law,” he added.
Raising concerns over financial priorities, Bajwa said that more than ₹1 crore of public money is expected to be spent on this special session. “At a time when Punjab is reeling under massive debt nearing ₹4.5 lakh crore, such extravagance to protect the ‘Maharaja of Satauj’ is unjustifiable,” he remarked.
Bajwa also highlighted several pressing issues facing the state that require urgent attention but are being ignored. He pointed to the worsening law and order situation, rise in gangster activity, and continued prevalence of drug abuse despite tall claims by the government.
On employee welfare, Bajwa said that pending dearness allowance (DA) dues running into thousands of crores remain unpaid. “Government employees and pensioners are waiting for their rightful dues, but instead of addressing their concerns, the government is indulging in political theatrics,” he said, referring to directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
Taking a swipe at Arvind Kejriwal, Bajwa said that the much-publicised “guarantees” have failed to translate into reality on the ground.
Bajwa concluded by stating that Punjabis deserve governance focused on real issues, not political theatrics. “This government must stop prioritising image-building exercises and instead address the serious challenges confronting the state,” Bajwa added.
