Chandigarh, Haryana: Political tensions have intensified in Haryana following protests by Congress legislators during the state Assembly’s monsoon session. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has launched a sharp attack on the Congress over sloganeering, demonstrations inside the House, legislators approaching the Speaker’s well, and allegations of pushing and jostling. BJP leaders have accused the opposition of prioritising political protests and disruption instead of participating in discussions on issues related to public welfare.
On the first day of the monsoon session, Congress MLAs arrived at the Assembly dressed in black. They carried placards highlighting various issues and registered their protest against the state government. The demonstration continued inside the House, with several legislators reaching the Speaker’s well and raising slogans, disrupting the proceedings.
During the commotion, Assembly Speaker Harvinder Kalyan had to intervene several times. He advised the legislators to maintain the dignity and decorum of the House. The Speaker said that while protesting is the right of the opposition in a democracy and questioning government policies is part of the democratic process, the manner of protest must remain in accordance with parliamentary traditions and democratic norms.
Concerns over the security arrangements in the Assembly were also cited as a reason behind the Speaker’s strict approach. After questions related to security arrangements were raised during previous Assembly sessions, security personnel were reportedly kept on higher alert in the Assembly complex this time. The Speaker has said that ensuring the safety of all members present in the House remains a priority.
Haryana Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mahipal Dhanda questioned the Congress’s method of protest. He said that the opposition has every right to challenge the government and present its views, but it is equally important to follow the rules and established traditions of the House. According to him, repeated disruptions and sloganeering affected discussions on important issues concerning the public.
Dhanda alleged that whenever an MLA was given an opportunity to speak or the Leader of the House attempted to address the Assembly, Congress legislators began raising slogans. He said that meaningful discussions on issues of public interest would not be possible if the House was repeatedly prevented from functioning.
An incident involving Baroda Congress MLA Induraj Narwal and rebel Dalit MLA Jarnail Singh also became a subject of political discussion during the protest. Narwal was allegedly involved in snatching a paper from Jarnail Singh’s hand, an incident that the BJP cited while raising questions over the conduct of Congress legislators.
Speaking to the media, Mahipal Dhanda said that the conduct of some Congress representatives gave the impression that their political “remote control” was being operated from Delhi. The BJP alleged that the Haryana Congress’s protest appeared to be influenced more by the political strategy of its central leadership than by local issues.
Assembly Speaker Harvinder Kalyan has also appealed to legislators to maintain the dignity of the House during the remaining days of the session. He stressed that the primary purpose of the Assembly is to discuss issues concerning the public and take decisions through democratic procedures.
For now, the uproar inside the Assembly has further heated up Haryana’s political atmosphere. The BJP continues to target the Congress over its method of protest, while the Congress is preparing to continue its political campaign against the state government. Political confrontation between the two parties is expected to intensify both inside and outside the Assembly in the coming days.
