Angry scenes in Haryana House on SYL, Ramdev
Chandigarh, March 9: The Haryana Assembly witnessed uproarious scenes on Thursday, forcing it to be adjourned thrice. The ruckus was over issues including the SYL canal and the alleged “land allotment” to yoga guru Ramdev’s Patajali Yogpeeth by the BJP-led state government.
Din prevailed in the House after legislators of the main Opposition INLD targeted Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala, alleging his party’s antiHaryana stance on the Satluj-Yamuna Link canal issue before they were suspended by the Speaker.
During Question Hour, things took an ugly turn soon after toursim minister Ram Bilas Sharma replied to a question raised by BJP MLA Latika Sharma, who sought to know if the government had any proposal to develop Morni area in her constituency Kalka into a tourist spot.
BJP and Congress members indulged in heated exchanges after Congress leader Karan Singh Dalal alleged the government was giving land to Baba Ramdev’s Patanjali Yogpeeth for development of a herbal forest at Morni in Panchkula “without following” due procedures.
Mr Dalal claimed that Baba Ramdev, who was appointed as brand ambassador by the Manohar Lal Khattar government for promotion of yoga and ayurveda, was being extended “undue benefit” by the present regime and costly land in Morni had “been doled out to him”.
2 INLD MLAs were suspended by the Speaker after they targeted Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala, alleging that his party had an anti-Haryana stance on the SYL issue
Health minister Anil Vij clarified that no land had been transferred to Patanjali Yogpeeth and only an MoU with Patanjali Anusandhan Sansthan Divya Yog Mandir Trust, Haridwar, was signed for developing a World Herbal Forest in Morni.
Mr Vij said Baba Ramdev would neither take any financial or commercial benefit from this project, nor would he have right of ownership of the land, to which a Congress member quipped, “Seth Ramdev kaho (call him Seth Ramdev)”.
However, Mr Dalal questioned Mr Vij’s locus standi in answering the question, with the minister hitting back in an angry tone and asking the Congress member to take his seat.
Dissatisfied with the reply of the ministers, the Congress MLAs started to walk out of the House when state cooperation minister Manish Grover passed some remarks, which infuriated them.
Congress legislators then rushed to the Well of the House on three occasions in protest, asking the Speaker to tell Mr Grover to tender an apology.