The winter session of the Haryana Assembly concluded on a stormy note in Chandigarh on Monday, marked by political acrimony and three separate walkouts by the opposition Congress legislators. The session, which saw the passage of eight important bills, was dominated by heated arguments between Congress and BJP MLAs and ministers, primarily triggered by a proposed discussion on electoral reforms.
Walkouts and War of Words Disrupt Proceedings
The day began with the question hour and zero hour proceeding normally, with all 20 listed questions taken up and MLAs raising constituency-specific issues. However, the decorum soon deteriorated. The first major flashpoint occurred when Leader of the Opposition Bhupinder Hooda alleged that calling attention motions and other proposals moved by Congress MLAs were being unfairly rejected by the Chair.
Speaker Harvinder Kalyan categorically stated that all subjects raised in such motions had been addressed, justifying the decision to decline them. This response irritated the Congress benches, leading to their first walkout of the day. Apart from the question hour, altercations between the treasury and opposition benches were a constant feature throughout the sitting.
The Core Controversy: Electoral Reforms and 'Vote Theft' Allegations
The situation escalated further when, after the passage of bills, Speaker Kalyan announced a discussion on electoral reforms on the lines of the Union government, proposed by MLA Ram Kumar Kashyap. Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini immediately endorsed the discussion, stating it was necessary to counter what he called the "misleading campaigns and propaganda" by the Congress.
Saini specifically referenced allegations made by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who had named Haryana in contexts of 'vote theft.' The CM asserted that such serious claims warranted a fact-based discussion in the House so the people of Haryana could know the truth. He clarified the discussion was not against the Systematic Voters' Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) program or the Election Commission of India.
Opposition leader Hooda strongly opposed the move, arguing the Assembly lacked the jurisdiction to interpret or vote on such matters. Following heated arguments, Congress MLAs raised slogans, created a ruckus, and staged their second walkout.
BJP Retort and a Final Escalation
The Congress exit gave BJP ministers a platform to criticize the opposition. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mahipal Dhanda said the walkout exposed the Congress's reluctance to engage in a serious discussion. Ministers Vipul Goyal and Arvind Sharma joined in, accusing Congress leaders of being willing to level accusations of 'vote chori' outside the House but refusing to debate them on the floor.
When Congress MLAs re-entered the House, they did so more aggressively, alleging that Minister Vipul Goyal had used unparliamentary language against an MLA. This charge, which Goyal outrightly denied, further escalated tensions. Despite efforts by the Speaker and the Chief Minister to pacify the members, the situation remained volatile, leading the Speaker to adjourn the House twice for 15 minutes each time. Minister Goyal expressed regret if his words had hurt anyone, but the damage was done, culminating in a third and final walkout by the Congress legislators.
Thus, the winter session ended amidst unprecedented chaos, highlighting the deep political divisions over the sensitive issue of electoral integrity in Haryana.
