Guv’s address: When MLAs debated without hostilities
CHANDIGARH : Hostilities were missing when Haryana MLAs on Wednesday held debate on the Governor’s address. The ruling BJP-JJP legislators desisted from interrupting the Congress MLAs like Geeta Bhukkal, who pointedly attacked the government on law and order and crime against women. And home minister Anil Vij and INLD’s lone MLA Abhay Chautala didn’t let the debate become dull by injecting the much-needed one-liners.
ABHAY SINGH CHAUTALA, INLD
When turn of the lone Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) MLA Abhay Chautala came some BJP MLAs were on their legs. And deputy chief minister Dushyant Chautala was watching his uncle from the corner of his eyes with a smile. “Main baith jaata hun, inko hi bolne do,” Chautala, the fourth-term MLA, protested much before he could start his debate. Chautala said he was hoping that the governor’s address will have policies and programmes concerning the promises the BJP had made. Much before he could take off, deputy speaker Ranbir Gangwa informed Abhay that his allotted six-minute time was almost over. In the last term of the assembly, Gangwa was INLD legislator. Before the assembly elections, Gangwa had joined the BJP and won. Chautala reminded the deputy speaker how both of them in last term used to shout demanding “Debate ka time badhao, samay badhao…”
“Now you are ordering me to conclude my address that I am actually yet to start,” he quipped.
Abhay’s another rustic dig at Gangwa was expunged after home minister Anil Vij intervened. Vij asked Abhay: “Withdraw the remarks…” And the INLD MLA obeyed. As Vij had the last laugh, Chautala said: “The deputy speaker is my old companion. He only understands what I am saying. What I am saying will go over the heads of most of you.”
At this the deputy speaker again asked Abhay to conclude. The MLA, who had made his point, said: “Aapp (Gangwa) to meri baat hi nahin sunte, mujhe walkout hi karna padega.”
NAINA CHAUTALA, JJP
Badhra MLA Naina Chautala drew the attention of the House towards women sarpaches and how their husbands were functioning as de-facto sarpanches. She said deserving elders living in ‘dhanis’ were not getting social security pensions.
Naina, who is a mother of deputy chief minister Dushyant Chautala, brought a specific case to the notice of chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar.
RAM KUMAR GAUTAM, JJP
Otherwise known for taking a critical stance against the state government, Narnaund MLA Ram Kumar Gautam was careful. He was lavish in praising his rival and former finance minister Capt Abhimanyu for pumping massive funds for developing Narnaund. “In fact, Abhimanyu was a second CM (in the last term),” he said and CM Khattar couldn’t hold his smile.
SEEMA TRIKHA, BJP
Badkhal legislator Seema Trikha shed some light on the problems of “refugee” families of her segment in Faridabad district.
“I too belong to this community,” Trikha said, pointing out that her ancestors had migrated after partition Pakistan. The second-time MLA drew the attention of the state government towards what she said absence of building byelaws where the families in question were settled in the wake of partition. Stating that sewerage line in her segment was about 60-year-old and needed to be replaced, the MLA also touched the issue of rising number of farm houses in the Aravali belt.
KIRAN CHOUDHRY, CONG
Senior Congress leader Kiran Choudhry launched a sharp attack on the government, saying the governor’s address was silent on burning issues Haryana had been facing. Unemployment and corruption, she said, were on the rise and the farmers who she refered to as “anndaata” were in “deep distress and in tears.” “The farmers get payment of their procured crop after a gap of six months,” she alleged amid mild opposition from the treasury benches.
BALRAJ KUNDU, IND
Meham legislator Balraj Kundu advised the legislators to approach industrial houses to start free buses for school-going girls under the corporate social responsibility model.
Education minister liked the idea so much that he appreciated the MLA’s “foresight”.
Kundu runs free of cost buses for girl students of his segment and asked all the legislators to start this facility instead of banking on the government. “All of us here are full of means,” he said and other MLAs kept mum.