Chandigarh, May 1
Leader of the Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa on Friday said that Punjab is witnessing a Chief Minister who appears “drunk with power and liquor,” and whose refusal to undergo an alco-meter test in the Vidhan Sabha has only exposed the truth and deepened public suspicion. Bajwa said that the Congress Legislative Party (CLP) had made a clear, reasonable and transparent demand for immediate alco-meter and dope testing of all MLAs, beginning with the Chief Minister, in order to uphold the dignity and sanctity of the House. He added that the demand came after serious allegations were raised on the floor of the House by Sukhpal Singh Khaira, to which the Chief Minister chose not to respond.
Bajwa further said that the Congress had specifically proposed that the tests be conducted by an independent and credible medical team from PGI, Chandigarh, starting with the Chief Minister and the Leader of Opposition, followed by all other MLAs, to ensure complete transparency and fairness. He stated that in any functioning democracy, such allegations require immediate clarification. However, instead of addressing the issue, the Chief Minister avoided accountability, which, Bajwa said, has only strengthened doubts in the minds of the people.
Bajwa asserted that the refusal to allow a simple and scientific alco-meter test speaks volumes. He said that if there was nothing to hide, the Chief Minister should have voluntarily undergone the test, adding that denial only exposes what the government is trying to conceal. He further questioned the decision of the Speaker in disallowing the testing, stating that permitting a uniform and transparent testing protocol would have restored confidence in the institution. According to him, the denial has instead undermined the credibility of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha.
Highlighting the gravity of the situation, Bajwa said that it is for the first time in the history of Punjab that such serious allegations have been made against a sitting Chief Minister. “If these allegations are true, then the Chief Minister has not only ridiculed his own party but also brought embarrassment to Punjabis across the world,” he said.
Taking a direct swipe at Arvind Kejriwal, Bajwa added, “I have stated many times that if Kejriwal cannot make his own Chief Minister nasha-mukt, how can he claim to make Punjab nasha-mukt?” Reiterating that the issue is not personal but institutional, Bajwa said that the Congress party remains committed to ensuring accountability and transparency in public life. He added that the dignity of the House cannot be compromised and the truth must come out before the people of Punjab.
