A heated debate broke out in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha on Tuesday after Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa accused Power Minister Harbhajan Singh of instructing senior officials in the power corporation across Punjab to collect funds for the Aam Aadmi Party ahead of the Delhi Assembly elections. Bajwa demanded that a House Committee or a Judicial Commission investigate the matter.

Harbhajan Singh dismissed the allegations as "baseless" and countered by questioning Bajwa about corruption allegations against him from his tenure as PWD Minister in the Congress government. As tensions escalated, Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan intervened, urging both leaders to take their seats and even using his gavel to restore order.

During Zero Hour, on the last day of the two-day Vidhan Sabha session, Bajwa further claimed that the PSEB Engineers Association had written to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, alleging that a power official in Hoshiarpur was assigned to collect cash for AAP’s ‘party funds’ to use for election campaign in Delhi.

Bajwa stated that the official had reported the matter to the Vigilance Bureau, which then set up a trap and caught the person making the demands. He alleged that the demands for money from PSPCL circle offices were made at the direction of the power minister.

He further claimed that no action was taken despite writing a letter to the Chief Minister about the issue. Bajwa also highlighted corruption in the revenue department, specifically involving Tehsildars and Naib Tehsildars. He referred to a letter from the former Chief Director of the Vigilance Bureau to the previous Chief Secretary, detailing their alleged activities.

“This letter mentioned the names of 48 revenue officials along with the names of their intermediaries saying that these are corrupt officials and an inquiry should be held against them. On the contrary, these persons are posted at top positions in the state,” stated Bajwa.

Bajwa cited a senior retired revenue official who claimed that revenue offices across Punjab collect an average of ₹1,000 crore per month in bribes.

After Bajwa finished speaking, the Power Minister reacted angrily, questioning him about allegations of a Gujarat "party" scandal and corruption during his tenure as PWD Minister in the Congress government. The minister also mentioned the coal tar scam, in which 28 department officials were arrested.

At this point, chaos erupted in the House, with MLAs from both the treasury benches and the Congress shouting and confronting each other.

The Speaker urged the members to maintain order and allow a structured discussion. Addressing Bajwa regarding the Power Minister, the Speaker said, "Let him speak. You have laid out all your aspersions on him."

Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema confronted Bajwa, telling him to “shut his mouth and sit down.” He questioned why the association had not formally complained about the issue and noted that the vigilance bureau was already investigating the matter.

Continuing his criticism of the AAP government, Bajwa stated that serious allegations had been made and called for either a house committee investigation or a judicial inquiry into the matter. Meanwhile, Cabinet Minister Aman Arora said that during the Delhi elections, the power minister had informed him that the vigilance bureau had registered an FIR regarding a demand for ₹50,000 as a party fund. However, Arora clarified that the FIR did not mention any specific individual or political party.

Defending the power minister, Arora stated that the minister had even called for strict action against an individual who accepted money from a rice sheller to facilitate his work. “He is my colleague, and I am the party (Punjab) president. It is my responsibility to defend him,” Arora asserted.

Meanwhile, Bajwa said that if the power minister is not involved, the state government will take action against the power utility officials who issued the letter.

Aman further emphasised that the government was open to any investigation into the allegations. However, he pointed out that a former Enforcement Directorate director had publicly stated that Congress ministers prevented him from probing the spurious liquor scam, which led to several deaths in Amritsar. “This too should be inquired into,” he insisted.