Punjab Assembly Suspends MLA Sukhpal Khaira After Congress Protests

The Punjab Assembly suspended Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira for the remainder of the current session on Friday, October 23. The suspension followed a motion moved by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema and an order from Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan, who cited Khaira's use of unparliamentary language against the chair and the deliberate disruption of House proceedings.

The disciplinary action occurred after Congress MLAs, led by Partap Singh Bajwa and Pargat Singh, stormed the well of the House wearing black scarves. The legislators presented a 'Laanat Patra' (letter of shame) to the Aam Aadmi Party government, alleging misgovernance, gangsterism, and law-and-order failures. The protest specifically demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann in response to the murder of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota.

The session devolved into chaos as members exchanged accusations regarding support for the drug mafia, and some MLAs threw paper missiles at the Speaker. Other members joined the unrest, including former BJP chief Sunil Kumar Jakhar, who brought the family of murder victim Ajay Kumar to the assembly to demand justice, and Waris Punjab De MLA Manpreet Singh Ayali, who protested the prevalence of synthetic drugs. The current assembly session is scheduled to continue until October 27.