Chandigarh, 4 March (H.S): On Monday, chaos erupted in the Punjab Assembly when Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann handed over a lock and key to the Speaker, asking him to lock the opposition inside the House during a discussion.

This was in response to the opposition's disruption of the Governor's address on the opening day of the Budget session. Despite Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa's assurance that they would not walk out, Mann remained adamant and heated arguments ensued. The Speaker explained that locking the door was symbolic and meant to ensure a productive discussion. However, tensions continued to rise between members of the ruling AAP and Congress, leading to a 15-minute adjournment.

Even after the House was adjourned, there were verbal exchanges between the two parties, almost turning physical at one point. This unruly scene highlights the tense political climate in Punjab and raises concerns about how discussions and debates are conducted in the state Assembly.

Hindusthan Samachar/ Indrani Sarkar