Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann unleashed a volley of insults and unparliamentary slang in the state assembly Tuesday during multiple monologues that he delivered in the house.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader virtually monopolised the proceedings of the assembly, speaking freely and without interruptions in the absence of the Congress that had walked out and boycotted the last day of the two-day special session.
At no point did Vidhan Sabha speaker Kultar Sandhwan object to Mann’s choice of words even when he made derogatory references about persons not present in the assembly.
During a discussion on a resolution moved by an MLA condemning the central government for not releasing Punjab’s share of the rural development fund (RDF), Mann called the state’s Governor Banwarilal Purohit a “velha baitha” (someone who had nothing productive to do) who kept sending him “love letters”.
“If I do not reply, then another letter is sent asking why I have not replied to the earlier letters,” said CM Mann, brandishing a set of bound papers, even as his MLAs laughed out loud.
Mann also said that the central government had kept a “rajpal” in every non-BJP-ruled state to trouble the Chief Minister. “This man is also sometimes called the governor. During British times he was called the viceroy. Their house has remained the same since British times. They have huge cannons outside their houses to scare the public,” said Mann.
“The Raj Bhawan is the head office of the BJP in states,” Mann added. “If these persons do not take a panga (create a problem) with the chief minister for a few days they get a call from the Centre.”
During another discussion, Mann said that the governor’s job was only to swear in MLAs, suggesting that this had already been done after the 2022 assembly elections. “Why doesn’t he (the governor) take a ticket from his party and contest elections? Mann asked. “He keeps moving around Punjab and often goes to Fazilka and Ferozepur.”
Mann was referring to the governor’s visits to different districts in the state to meet people directly and know about their problems.
Through the day’s proceedings, Mann also threatened legal action against the central government, lampooned Congress MLA Partap Singh Bajwa as Partap Singh “Bhaajpa” (BJP), and made derogatory references to the tying and untying of the beard by “some” leaders, in an apparent reference Akali Dal’s Sukhbir Singh Badal.
Also Read: Punjab assembly passes law replacing governor with CM as chancellor of state universities
‘Warning’ to central govt?
Demanding Punjab’s share of the RDF from the central government, Mann said he was not asking for alms but what was the rightful due of the state.
“What if Punjab stops giving any grain to the Centre? How will the Centre distribute grain through their Public Distribution System without Punjab?” the CM asked.
“The Centre should release Punjab’ share of the RDF in the coming few days otherwise let me tell you on July 1 the Supreme Court is opening,” he added, in a barely veiled threat to the central government.
Since last month, Mann has been hitting out at the central government over its decision to reduce the RDF and the market fee on foodgrains.
‘Partap Singh Bhaajpa’
Mann took several jibes at Punjab’s leader of the opposition Partap Singh Bajwa, going as far as to mimic the Congressman’s style of speaking, inviting sniggers from AAP MLAs.
Referring to him as Partap Singh “Bhaajpa”, Mann said the leader of the opposition despite being in the Congress seemed to be overly concerned about BJP and its “Operation Lotus”— a term employed for the BJP’s poaching of leaders from other parties — and kept asking what had come out of it.
In October last year, Mann had alleged that the BJP was trying to buy out its MLAs as part of Operation Lotus. Following this, an FIR was also lodged but no information was shared with the public since then.
Taking a dig at Bajwa’s brother (Fatehjang Singh Bajwa) being in the BJP, Mann said that two types of flags were hoisted at Bajwa’s house— one of the Congress at a lower level and another of the BJP at a higher level. Mann added that there was only a difference of 12 steps between the two levels, which could be crossed anytime.
Mann did not even spare Bajwa’s dark glasses. “It is not necessary that everybody who wears dark glasses is speaking the truth. In fact, people start looking at such persons with suspicion… that they are not able to see you in the eye and speak the truth,” he said.
During another discussion, he again took on Bajwa claiming that the latter had a tendency to look down upon AAP MLAs for being from humble backgrounds. “He (Bajwa) says even those who are charging mobiles (mobile repairmen) have become MLAs,” said Mann.
“Let me tell Bajwa, sirf mobile charging waale nahin, dimaag theek karan waale vee aa gaye assembly vich (not only those who recharge mobiles, but also those who repair brains have entered the Assembly),” Mann added.
Referring to the boycott of the session by the Congress, Mann suggested to the Speaker that the opposition should not even be invited to attend a session if all they had to do was sit there for 10 minutes, raise slogans, and walk out.
Ballistic over beards
Addressing the House on a bill to amend the Sikh Gurdwaras Act of 1925, Mann made derogatory references to the tying and untying of the beard by “some” leaders. He was apparently referring to Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal, although he did not take his name.
“We are straight persons. What is in our heart is on our face. Mauka dekh ke daadi nahin kholde (We do not open our beards whenever we see an opportunity),” Mann said.
Sukhbir Badal is seen with his beard loose or tied on different occasions, often leading to speculation in Punjab. An open beard is generally associated with devout Sikhs. Mann’s reference to the opening and tying of the beard was to allege that some leaders turned excessively devout when the need arises.
Using gestures to mimic the opening and tying of a beard on his own face, Mann said that some people opened and tied beards on whether or not elections were due.
He did, however, reserve some complimentary words— for himself. He said he had “batti dand” (32 teeth), so everything he said was true. He also claimed he had prior knowledge of what the opposition was up to. “After all I am the Chief Minister,” Mann said.
(Edited by Asavari Singh)
Also Read: Mann govt defies Akal Takht direction, amendment against ‘monopoly on Gurbani broadcast’ passed