Heated Debate Escalates in Punjab Assembly Over Medical Colleges

The Punjab Assembly turned into a battlefield on Tuesday as legislators from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Congress engaged in a fierce war of words. Leader of the Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa contested Cabinet Minister Aman Arora’s intervention during Health Minister Balbir Singh’s response to a crucial query.

Bajwa's pointed question demanded accountability from the Bhagwant Mann-led government for failing to establish any of the 16 promised medical colleges, a commitment presented in its first budget. Balbir Singh's mention of two private colleges did little to placate Bajwa, who accused him of misleading the public.

The tension escalated when Arora attempted to speak, prompting objections from Bajwa who insisted, “He is not the health minister.” Despite Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan's reminders of collective cabinet responsibility, the altercation intensified, with Arora, finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema, and other AAP MLAs moving to the Well of the House in protest.