The Punjab Budget session resumed on Monday in the Vidhan Sabha amid sharp exchanges between AAP and the Opposition parties following Finance Minister Harpal Cheema’s presentation of the state’s Rs 2.6 lakh budget on Sunday.AAP minister Professor Baljinder Kaur commenced the motion of thanks on Governor Gulab Chand Kataria’s address.Leader of Opposition Pratap Bajwa followed by expressing disagreement with most of the proposals of the Budget, including delay in providing Rs 1,000 per month to women.5 crore visits at Aam Aadmi Clinics till date, claims CM MannMarch 9, 2026 1:27 pmThe Chief Minister said, “There have been more than 5 crore visits at Aam Aadmi Clinics till date.” “Our government is driving on the path of progress. We are now catching speed. Colours of progress have started showing but we will shine brighter soon in the times to come,” he added.Former Minister Kuldeep Dhaliwal in a heated conversation with Hardev Singh Laddi outside the assembly hall during the Budget session of Punjab Vidhan Sabha in Chandigarh on Monday. Tribune photo: Ravi KumarMarch 9, 2026 12:58 pmChief Minister Bhagwant Mann starts his addressMarch 9, 2026 12:53 pmChief Minister Bhagwant Mann started his address, saying that the AAP government have dedicated four years to public service. He referred to earlier manifestos as mere announcements and said that the people did not even cared to follow up but their government only put agenda on paper. Mann said, “We have given all that we promised. We have ensured that farmers get power for their fields during the day time and not at night like earlier times. They were suffering in the biting cold of winters.” He added, “Second biggest TATA project will be launched in Punjab on March 20, coming up at a cost of Rs 3,200 crore. It will provide at least 4,000 jobs.”Leader of Opposition Pratap Bajwa stages a walkout along with the Congress MLAs from the Punjab Vidhan Sabha in Chandigarh on Monday. Tribune photo: Ravi KumarMarch 9, 2026 12:51 pmHarpal Cheema responds to objections raised over provision of jobs, sacrilegeMarch 9, 2026 12:45 pmFinance Minister Harpal Cheema said, “We have given more than 63,000 jobs to the youth of Punjab. This can be verified with the fact that we have increased 20,000 seats in the ITIs.” Responding on the sacrilege, Cheema said that it was the SAD-BJP who were responsible for firing at Bargari during sacrilege. “Capt Amarinder Singh swore on Guru Granth Sahib, saying he will bring the truth to light,” he said.BJP MLA Jangi Lal Mahajan points out loopholes in AAP’s anti-drug driveMarch 9, 2026 12:42 pmBJP MLA Jangi Lal Mahajan has pointed out the loopholes in the anti-drug drive of the AAP governement. He said certain common people were being harassed while giving an example of a youth from Mukerian.Manpreet Ayali slams AAP govt over pending action against those involved in sacrilegeMarch 9, 2026 12:36 pmManpreet Ayali slams the AAP government over the pending action against those involved in sacrilege. He said, “Capt Amarinder Singh had done it in 2017. In 2022, you had assured strict action against those involved. A committee was formed. Even the House today has not done anything. Gurjit Sngh Khalsa is sitting atop a tank in Patiala. The government should assure to take up the matter in this session.” Ayali further said, “Bandi Sikhs, many of whom have completed their tenure of punishment in jail, should be released immediately. They are not common criminals.” He also raised the issue of Amritpal not being allowed to participate in the Parliament.Arora reminds Congress about promise of housesMarch 9, 2026 12:26 pmArora further alleged that the Congress promised houses for the homeless, which they have not fulfilled, while the AAP government has provided for 76,000 houses and one lakh more would be given this year.Cabinet Minister Aman Arora starts addressing HouseMarch 9, 2026 12:16 pmIn his address to the House, Cabinet Minister Aman Arora started by asking, “Why did the Congress governemnt walk out during the Governor’s address?” Arora further said “We had made five promises in our manifesto and we have delivered all. Capt had promised ‘Ghar Ghar Naukri’ and have not provided for any, while we have given 63,000 jobs. The Congress had promised Rs 2,500 stipend, mohalla clinics and teacher recruitment. On the other hand, we have opened 881 mohalla clinics and recruited more than 13500 teachers. The Congress had also promised three NDA preparatory schools but not even one has come up yet.”Bajwa on incomplete medical college projectsMarch 9, 2026 11:58 amBajwa further said, “16 medical collleges were provided for in the first budget. Kapurthala and Hoshiarpur were put in the second. Another list came and the subsequent proposals followed. Earlier projects have not yet been completed. All are mere announcements.”Bajwa questions public safetyMarch 9, 2026 11:57 amBajwa further questioned the safety of people of Punjab. He said that people today want arms licenses because they feel unsafe because of ransom calls. The LoP alleged that AAP MLAs were involved in drugs and illegal sand mining. He further said, “Drugs in Punjab are available like Zomato orders.”‘Why so late?’: Bajwa on Rs 1,000 per month for womenMarch 9, 2026 11:54 amBajwa appreciated the move to give Rs 1,000 per month to women and Rs 1,500 per month to dalit ladies, but questioned the delay in delivery of party convenor Arvind Kejriwal’s promise. He said, “The AAP government should have given Rs 60,000 for five years but you are giving only Rs 9,300.”Partap Bajwa disagrees to majority Budget proposalsMarch 9, 2026 11:43 amLeader of Opposition Partap Bajwa said, “We do not agree to the majority of proposals that were presented in the Budget by Finance Minister Harpal Cheema, but did not speak then so at least give me a chance now.” Bajwa targeted senior officer Kunwar Vijay Partap, who promised that the government would earn Rs 20,000 crore per annum from mining, another Rs 34,000 crore per annum from other sources.Motion of thanks on Governor’s address commencesMarch 9, 2026 11:40 amProf Baljinder Kaur commenced the motion of thanks on the Governor’s address. She said AAP government is the first in Punjab to deliver what it promised it’s voters and that it is living up to all expectations of the general public. Opposition is finding it very difficult to digest the success of a Governemnt where it’s leaders came from homes of common people, she added.