Chandigarh, March 11 The ongoing Budget Session of the Punjab Assembly saw heated exchanges between the ruling AAP and opposition legislators on Wednesday over alleged derogatory remarks made by Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira about women.
Unruly scenes erupted in the House after Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema raised the issue of Khaira's alleged comment.
As the chaos continued, Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan adjourned the House for 20 minutes.
Khaira had come under fire from AAP MLAs for some remarks he allegedly made on social media on Tuesday about women celebrating the 'Mukhy Mantri Mawan Dhian Satkar Yojana' under which the state government will provide Rs 1,000 per month to eligible beneficiaries.
The Assembly even passed a resolution on Tuesday condemning Khaira for the remarks.
Cheema raised the issue again on Wednesday.
The AAP minister demanded action against the Bholath MLA for his unparliamentary language, an unconditional apology from him, and cancellation of his membership.
Cheema and Khaira engaged in a verbal duel after this.
Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa then sought to move a resolution against Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for an alleged comment he made against women on International Women's Day.
However, the speaker refused to admit it, accusing the Congress MLAs of diverting attention from Khaira's remark.
The AAP MLAs, including women legislators, rushed to the Well of the House, demanding action against Khaira. As tempers ran high, the speaker adjourned the House for 20 minutes.
As the House resumed, Bajwa urged Sandhwan to allow Khaira to speak.
However, the speaker asserted that Khaira should first tender an apology.
AAP MLA Inderjit Kaur Mann demanded that the speaker expel Khaira from the House.
Another bout of arguments broke out between Khaira and AAP ministers Harpal Singh Cheema and Aman Arora, leading to pandemonium.
The AAP MLAs stormed into the Well of the House again and shouted slogans against Khaira.
The Congress legislators, led by Bajwa, also rushed to the Well and protested about Khaira not being allowed to speak. They later walked out of the House.