LoP Bajwa attacks AAP govt in Punjab over Assembly adjourned in 11 minutes: 'Fraud on democracy'

Bajwa said this (AAP) government has turned governance into theatre and the Assembly into a stage for scripted drama

Punjab Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa Thursday criticised the AAP government for meting 'fraud on democracy' after the first day of the special session of the state assembly was adjourned in merely 11 minutes.

"An 11-minute session at the cost of Rs 1 crore is not just a waste of money, it's a fraud on democracy," said the leader of opposition in the Punjab Assembly.

LoP Bajwa said, "This (AAP) government has turned governance into theatre and the Assembly into a stage for scripted drama."

On the first day of the two-day special session on Thursday, the state assembly was adjourned after obituary references.

In a statement, Bajwa said that he had formally written to assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan, requesting an extension of the session to allow discussion on the law and order and the land pooling scheme.

"Yet, instead of addressing these urgent concerns, the AAP government chose to wrap up the day in just 11 minutes," said Bajwa.

"Even more concerning, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was absent from the session," he said.

Bajwa also questioned the AAP government over its decision to bring a draft bill for harsher punishment against sacrilege acts, saying it has not even provided the Opposition with a copy of the proposed legislation.

"I seriously doubt whether a draft even exists. The AAP government is not being run from Chandigarh, it's being remote-controlled from Delhi by Arvind Kejriwal," he alleged.

Bajwa urged people across Punjab to demand answers from the AAP and CM Mann.

"Why was Rs 9.09 lakh per minute of public money wasted? Why is the Assembly being reduced to a political circus," he asked.

With inputs from PTI