Punjab Assembly Session Adjourned After 9 Minutes as Jhota Gets Tribute

October 22, 2026

Chandigarh: The special session of the Punjab Legislative Assembly began on Thursday with tributes to those who had recently died, including Parminder Singh Jhota of Mansa, who had raised his voice against the drug menace. The House was adjourned until Friday after proceedings lasting just nine minutes and six seconds.

The six-day session opened amid political tensions, with the opposition preparing to raise questions over drug trafficking and the action taken by central agencies. Outside the Assembly, BJP leaders staged a protest over the drug situation and the demand for justice for a family seeking the government’s attention.

During the House proceedings, members paid tribute to Jhota and eight MGNREGA workers who died in a road accident in Sangrur. The Assembly observed a two-minute silence in their memory before the proceedings were adjourned.

BJP Protests Outside Assembly Over Drug Issue

Ahead of the session, BJP leaders and family members of Lovepreet gathered outside the Assembly to stage a protest. Police detained the protesters and removed them from the spot.

Former Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar urged Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to meet the family and hear its concerns. He questioned why the Chief Minister could order a CBI inquiry while travelling by air but had not met the family. Jakhar said the protesters would continue coming to the Assembly until justice was delivered.

The BJP also raised concerns over the drug problem in Punjab, arguing that the crisis was affecting lives and that people speaking against the drug trade were facing serious consequences.

Opposition Prepares to Target Government Over Drugs

The opposition is expected to question the Aam Aadmi Party government over its handling of drug trafficking in the state. Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa had already indicated that his party would not allow the House to function without raising the issue.

The AAP, meanwhile, is expected to defend its anti-drug campaign and point to steps taken by the current government. The ruling party may also hold previous governments responsible for the problem and raise questions about the Centre’s role in preventing drug smuggling through ports in Gujarat and across international borders.

ED and CBI Actions Likely to Feature in Debate

The opposition is also preparing to raise questions about actions taken by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The AAP may accuse the Centre of using central agencies for political purposes, while the opposition is expected to press the state government over its own handling of key issues.

With the six-day session underway, drug trafficking, the demand for accountability and the role of central agencies are likely to remain major points of political confrontation in the Assembly.