Punjab Assembly’s Final Day Sees AAP-Congress Clash; Bajwa Alleges He Was Shoved, Khaira and Manuke Trade Barbs

October 27, 2026

Chandigarh: The final day of the special session of the Punjab Legislative Assembly witnessed a heated confrontation between AAP and Congress MLAs, while Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann used the proceedings to press Punjab’s claims over river water, demand payment for water supplied to Rajasthan and propose a Yamuna-Sutlej Link (YSL) as an alternative to the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal.

The political tension began after Congress leaders arrived wearing black cloth around their necks and alleged that they had been stopped from entering the House. Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa raised the issue, saying Congress MLAs were prevented from entering the Assembly. The party raised slogans and boycotted the proceedings.

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Speaker Kultar Sandhwan directed the Assembly Secretary to look into the matter. He also asked BSP MLA Nachhatar Pal whether he had been stopped from entering the House. Nachhatar Pal replied that he was punctual. The Speaker later clarified that no member would be barred from entering the House unless disciplinary action had been taken against them.

AAP and Congress MLAs Clash at Podium

The confrontation escalated when AAP and Congress MLAs argued over the use of the Assembly podium for a press conference. AAP MLA Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal told Congress leaders to go outside and do what they wanted, adding that the party would not tolerate what he called Bajwa’s hooliganism inside the House. Bajwa alleged that he had been shoved.

A separate argument broke out between Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira and AAP MLA Sarbjit Kaur Manuke. Khaira raised slogans against Manuke, calling her a minister who had occupied an NRI’s house. Manuke said she had already received relief from the court and would file a defamation case against Khaira over the matter.

BJP leader Ravneet Singh Bittu also arrived outside the Assembly carrying a bottle and targeted the Punjab government and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.

Mann Demands ₹1.44 Lakh Crore in Water Royalties from Rajasthan

During the debate on water rights, Mann said Punjab would raise its voice for every drop of water and fight for its claims in court and on the streets if necessary.

The Chief Minister claimed that Rajasthan owed Punjab ₹1.44 lakh crore in unpaid water royalties. He said Rajasthan had paid royalties until 1960 but had since been receiving Punjab’s water without payment. Mann argued that Rajasthan was using the water as a resource to generate revenue while Punjab itself faced a serious water shortage.

Mann questioned why Rajasthan and Haryana were demanding water from the Ravi and Beas rivers but Punjab was not invited to meetings concerning the Yamuna. He said undivided Punjab had a share in the Yamuna before the reorganisation of Punjab and Haryana.

Raising the SYL canal dispute, Mann said he had suggested to Union Home Minister Amit Shah that a Yamuna-Sutlej Link (YSL) should be considered instead of the proposed Sutlej-Yamuna Link. He argued that it could supply water to Haryana and allow surplus water to flow into the Sutlej.

Mann also questioned the need to build a canal when, according to him, the Sutlej itself was facing a shortage of water. Referring to the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB), disputes with Rajasthan and demands concerning the control of dams and headworks, he asked why Punjab’s rights were being questioned when water was a state subject.

The Chief Minister also criticised the Congress over the water issue, saying opposition members had left the House instead of facing a debate. His remarks came during the discussion on the resolution concerning Punjab’s water rights.

Punjab Government Seeks Payment for Water Supplied to Rajasthan

Irrigation Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal moved a resolution demanding payment from Rajasthan for water supplied by Punjab. The resolution argued that the Sutlej, Ravi and Beas do not flow through Rajasthan, which the minister said was not a riparian state.

It called on the Rajasthan government to pay for the water it receives and urged the Centre to ensure that Punjab is paid annually for future supplies.

The minister also said Punjab should pursue its claim over the Yamuna’s water. The resolution urged the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti to expedite a decision on Punjab’s complaint filed on April 25, 2025, and constitute a Water Disputes Tribunal. If the Centre failed to act, the state government should approach the Supreme Court.

Another resolution called on the Centre to prioritise the completion of the Ujh Multipurpose Project. The Irrigation Minister said water from the Ujh, Tarnah and Basantar rivers in Jammu and Kashmir flows into the Ravi downstream of Madhopur Headworks before reaching Pakistan. Punjab currently lacks the infrastructure needed to store this water, and the proposed project is intended to help divert it towards the Ranjit Sagar Dam for irrigation and other state needs.

Mann Claims Expansion in Canal Irrigation

Mann said his government had laid around 14,000 kilometres of pipeline, comparing the distance with the route from Delhi to Vancouver, Canada.

He claimed that canal irrigation had expanded from 22 per cent of agricultural land when his government took office to 80 per cent. He also said the Kandi Canal had become operational after 40 years and that water was being lifted to supply people living in hilly areas.

According to Mann, the expansion of irrigation facilities had reduced dependence on groundwater extraction. He claimed Punjab’s groundwater level had risen by between one and five metres.

The Chief Minister said the government’s role was to solve people’s problems rather than merely raise slogans. He also referred to farmers benefiting from improved irrigation facilities and said the changes had affected the rates at which land was leased.

Speaking about water and environmental conservation, Mann quoted a message written on a school wall: “Daughters in the womb and water in the earth—if these are not preserved, the story ends.”

Kartarpur Corridor Reopening Raised in Assembly

Mann called for the reopening of the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor, saying people on both sides shared deep ties and that the Punjab government had approached the Centre on the issue.

He referred to the history of cross-border travel and said buses and trains had once connected people. He also expressed concern over the way political tensions had affected relations and even sports.

The Chief Minister said the government would take its initiatives to the public, including its electricity benefits and the Mawan-Dhiyan scheme, and present its agenda to people.

Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said 80 lakh women had registered for the Mawan-Dhiyan scheme. He also moved a resolution stating that the state’s welfare programmes would continue and be included in the Punjab budget.

The schemes mentioned included the Mukhyamantri Maata-Dhiyan Yojana, 300 units of free electricity per month, subsidised electricity for agriculture, the Mukhyamantri Sehat Yojana, Aam Aadmi Clinics, free bus travel for women, the Teerth Yatra scheme and financial schemes for the dairy sector. The resolution also condemned remarks made by the Congress, BJP and Shiromani Akali Dal.

Punjab May Host 2030 Hockey World Cup

Mann said Punjab could get an opportunity to host the 2030 Hockey World Cup if the state successfully hosts upcoming international matches.

He highlighted Punjab’s contribution to Indian hockey and recalled athletes such as Milkha Singh, Dara Singh, Surjit Singh and Balbir Singh. He also said that nine of the 11 players in the current Indian hockey team were from Punjab, along with three of the four reserve players.

As part of the Asian Champions Trophy, Malaysia and China were scheduled to play in Jalandhar on October 27, followed by India’s match against Bangladesh in the evening. Mann said he would attend the opening ceremony.

League matches were planned at Burlton Park in Jalandhar, while the semi-finals and final were scheduled to take place in Mohali on November 3 and 4. The Speaker invited MLAs to attend the matches and support the players, with the prospect of hosting the 2030 World Cup linked to Punjab’s ability to organise the event successfully.

Assembly Raises Mid-Day Meal Issue for Nursery, LKG Students

AAP MLA Kulwant Singh raised concerns over nursery and LKG students being excluded from the mid-day meal scheme, which currently covers students from UKG to Class 8.

He said children in nursery and LKG classes sit in the same classrooms as older students but are left out when meals are served. According to him, this creates a difficult situation in which younger children are sent out while other students receive their meals.

The minister said the Centre had changed the rules following the introduction of Pre-Primary 1 and Pre-Primary 2 classes. He added that the government was making efforts to ensure that meals reached all children.