CHANDIGARH : Congress MLAs staged a walkout twice over the BJP government’s anti-conversion bill during the third day of Haryana legislative assembly’s budget session on Friday.
Such was the ferocity of discussions over the proposed legislation, which the Congress claims will impinge on the right to religious freedom that speaker Gian Chand Gupta suspended former speaker and Congress MLA R S Kadian for the rest of the session.
Haryana home minister Anil Vij reintroduced the proposed legislation, named The Haryana Prevention of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Bill 2022, in the assembly. The House erupted in commotion when CM Manohar Lal Khattar justified the bill, saying it did not mention any religion. Pointed to Congress MLAs, he said, “Even you can opt for (religious) conversion. ”
Angry with the CM’s remark, Kadian tore a copy of the bill and Congress MLAs walked up to the well of the House, raising anti-government and antiBJP slogans. Kadian was the first to rise from the seat after Vij laid the bill. He accused treasury benches and BJP of divisive politics. When he hinted at past incidents, Vij referred to the anti-Sikh riots of 1984 and violence during Partition.
As ruckus continued over his comment, Khattar announced to withdraw his words. At the same time, Kadian said he tore the proposed legislation in the heat of the moment and he had done no wrong as the bill was yet to be presented on the floor of the House. However, Gupta, a BJP MLA himself, maintained that he had zero tolerance for such behaviour and gave a last chance to Kadian to tender an apology. When Kadian refused
to do it, parliamentary affairs minister Kanwar Pal Gujjar moved a resolution to suspend Kadian for the rest of the session. After this, marshals walked towards Kadian and took him out. This led to the first walkout by Congress MLAs.
As the session resumed after lunch, Congress MLAs started a debate for revocation of Kadian’s suspension. Referring to rules, Rohtak MLA Bharat Bhushan Batra said the speaker could refer the case to the privileges committee, but could not suspend the member. Deputy leader of opposition Aftab Ahmed and former opposition leader Kiran Choudhry kept asking the speaker to review his decision as they were ready to tender an apology on behalf of their colleague.
As the speaker refused to entertain their plea, Congress MLAs again walked into the well of the House and then walked out of the House.
Chautala vs Chautala
A tiff between INLD MLA Abhay Singh Chautala and his brother’s wife JJP MLA Naina Chautala, took centre stage in the second half of the discussion on governor’s address.
During his speech, Abhay pointed to the seat of deputy CM Dushyant Chautala, who is Naina’s son, while referring to the increase in old-age pension. As Dushyant was not present, his mother tried to reply. However, she did not as Abhay asked her to sit. Later, Naina too read out a couplet about those who did not like her son to be the deputy CM. did not like her son to be the deputy CM.
Such was the ferocity of discussions over the proposed legislation, which the Congress claims will impinge on the right to religious freedom that speaker Gian Chand Gupta suspended former speaker and Congress MLA R S Kadian for the rest of the session.
Haryana home minister Anil Vij reintroduced the proposed legislation, named The Haryana Prevention of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Bill 2022, in the assembly. The House erupted in commotion when CM Manohar Lal Khattar justified the bill, saying it did not mention any religion. Pointed to Congress MLAs, he said, “Even you can opt for (religious) conversion. ”
Angry with the CM’s remark, Kadian tore a copy of the bill and Congress MLAs walked up to the well of the House, raising anti-government and antiBJP slogans. Kadian was the first to rise from the seat after Vij laid the bill. He accused treasury benches and BJP of divisive politics. When he hinted at past incidents, Vij referred to the anti-Sikh riots of 1984 and violence during Partition.
As ruckus continued over his comment, Khattar announced to withdraw his words. At the same time, Kadian said he tore the proposed legislation in the heat of the moment and he had done no wrong as the bill was yet to be presented on the floor of the House. However, Gupta, a BJP MLA himself, maintained that he had zero tolerance for such behaviour and gave a last chance to Kadian to tender an apology. When Kadian refused
to do it, parliamentary affairs minister Kanwar Pal Gujjar moved a resolution to suspend Kadian for the rest of the session. After this, marshals walked towards Kadian and took him out. This led to the first walkout by Congress MLAs.
As the session resumed after lunch, Congress MLAs started a debate for revocation of Kadian’s suspension. Referring to rules, Rohtak MLA Bharat Bhushan Batra said the speaker could refer the case to the privileges committee, but could not suspend the member. Deputy leader of opposition Aftab Ahmed and former opposition leader Kiran Choudhry kept asking the speaker to review his decision as they were ready to tender an apology on behalf of their colleague.
As the speaker refused to entertain their plea, Congress MLAs again walked into the well of the House and then walked out of the House.
Chautala vs Chautala
A tiff between INLD MLA Abhay Singh Chautala and his brother’s wife JJP MLA Naina Chautala, took centre stage in the second half of the discussion on governor’s address.
During his speech, Abhay pointed to the seat of deputy CM Dushyant Chautala, who is Naina’s son, while referring to the increase in old-age pension. As Dushyant was not present, his mother tried to reply. However, she did not as Abhay asked her to sit. Later, Naina too read out a couplet about those who did not like her son to be the deputy CM. did not like her son to be the deputy CM.