In a stunning escalation during Punjab Assembly’s special session, leaders from Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal have accused Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann of entering the house intoxicated. A widely circulated video on social media has become the epicenter of the row, leading to an unprecedented call for alcohol and drug screening of every single MLA.
Pratap Singh Bajwa, head of the Congress Legislature Party, wasted no time. He penned a strongly worded letter to the Speaker, urging tests be carried out immediately—within one hour—by independent doctors from PGIMER Chandigarh. The demand underscores a broader concern: preserving the assembly’s honor amid rising allegations.
Bajwa framed the issue as a collective responsibility. ‘We’re not targeting one person; this is about the institution’s integrity,’ he stated firmly. Congress lawmakers have vowed to stay away from debates until the matter is resolved transparently.
BJP firebrand Swati Maliwal amplified the outrage online, chronicling Mann’s purported alcohol-fueled escapades—from gurdwara appearances to a mid-flight removal abroad. She mocked his solemn vow to his mother before elections, questioning how such a figure could govern a volatile border region. ‘Files signed inebriated? This is shamelessness personified,’ she posted.
Maliwal went further, advocating for Mann’s disqualification as CM if tests confirm guilt. With the AAP facing its toughest scrutiny yet, the assembly session risks derailment. Stakeholders watch closely as Punjab’s leadership crisis deepens, potentially reshaping alliances and public trust in the near future.
