CHANDIGARH — The ongoing monsoon session of the Punjab Assembly witnessed high-decibel political clashes and crucial administrative debates, cantered around allegations of high-level illegal mining, employee welfare, agricultural infrastructure, and government support for stranded international students in Canada.
Allegations of Illegal Mining and National Security Risks
Illegal mining emerged as the most contentious flashpoint in the House. Leader of the Opposition (LoP) Pratap Singh Bajwa launched a scathing attack on the government, alleging that rampant illegal mining is ongoing in Pathankot, directly contradicting previous claims by the Water Resources Minister that no such activities existed.
Bajwa detailed a specific administrative scam, claiming a minister forced the preferential transfer of a specific Block Development and Panchayat Officer (BDPO). According to Bajwa, the official was promoted within three days and subsequently allotted 92 acres of mineral-rich public land at a throwaway price to an individual just before retiring.
The LoP noted that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has already conducted raids and arrested two close associates of the minister, alleging that materials sourced via illegal mining were funnelled through two crusher units, causing massive revenue losses to the state exchequer. Highlighting a grave security angle, Bajwa pointed out that the Punjab and Haryana High Court has remarked that unchecked mining near the Ravi River directly compromises national security by fuelling cross-border smuggling and anti-national activities. The accusations triggered heavy disruptions and protests, with Congress MLAs eventually moving to the centre of the House.
Government Response on Infrastructure and Panchayat Lands
Addressing concerns raised by multiple MLAs regarding public infrastructure, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann clarified the timelines for infrastructural upkeep. He explained that road construction is routinely halted during the peak monsoon and severe winter months, establishing September to December as the primary window for execution. Mann assured the House that the administration maintains strict oversight to prevent any compromise on material quality.
On the legislative front, the Speaker highlighted a recurring administrative loophole: several land parcels currently under active cultivation lack official records and are not registered in the name of Panchayats. Responding to suggestions that these lands be regularized and transferred to those actively farming them, the Chief Minister confirmed that the government is actively evaluating the matter.
Meanwhile, MLA Rana Inder Pratap Singh advocated for a dedicated Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to streamline complex village land partitions, particularly when bank loans are tied to disputed properties.
Employee Welfare, Grain Storage, and Electoral Integrity
The opposition also cornered the ruling dispensation on pending administrative promises. MLA Manpreet Ayali criticized the government for delaying the release of the Dearness Allowance (DA) to state employees, failing to roll out the promised Old Pension Scheme, and stalling the regularization of teachers, despite court-mandated fund directions.
Agricultural and logistical readiness also took centre stage. MLA Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa warned of an impending crisis in grain markets (mandis), cautioning that severe storage and transport deficits could leave paddy crops vulnerable to damage, and urged the state to lobby the Centre for additional transit vehicles. MLA Kuljit Singh Randhawa raised local grievances, demanding immediate canal water supply for 100 villages in Dera Bassi.
Additionally, MLA Amansher Singh Kalsi drew attention to electoral irregularities, alleging that massive numbers of votes are being deleted under the guise of the Special Summary Revision (SIR), citing controversial viral political videos as evidence of systemic manipulation.
Backing for International Students in Canada
Amidst domestic political turbulence, the House united on a humanitarian front concerning the diaspora. NRI Affairs Minister Ravjot Singh announced that the Punjab government will extend comprehensive assistance—including crucial legal backing in the Federal Court—to approximately 1,500 international students currently staging sit-in protests in Canada after facing sudden denials of their post-graduate work permits.
Minister Ravjot urged the Union Government to step in immediately, asserting that New Delhi must press Canadian authorities to conduct a fair review of all affected student applications to safeguard their futures.
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