Oppn resents being kept out of loop on SYL

Geetanjali Gayatri

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 4

A united Opposition today took on the government for keeping its members out of the loop despite a consensus on an all-party delegation meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the SYL issue. It sought an immediate response from Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on what transpired on the issue during his recent meeting with Modi.

The Congress staged a walkout to express its displeasure.

During a special one-day session of the Haryana Vidhan Sabha here today, Khattar later disclosed that he had handed over a memorandum to the PM seeking early resolution of the SYL as also on a separate high court and the Hisar airport.

At pains to explain his position, Khattar said contrary to the Opposition’s demand, he was not giving a reply, but only apprising the members of the House.

Clarifying that there was no question of keeping the leaders out of the loop when he called on the Prime Minister, Khattar explained that Haryana’s all-party delegation had called on the President and met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh after they were directed by the PMO.

“The matter was closed after that,” he said, explaining that he was in Delhi for a Niti Ayog meeting and sought a meeting with Modi.

“I asked for an appointment and got it. The Punjab CM had met the PM a day prior to that. I thought it was necessary to place Haryana’s stand before the PM, so I gave him the memorandum,” Khattar said.

Earlier, just after the obituary references, Leader of the Opposition Abhay Chautala raised the issue of the CM meeting the PM alone instead of leading an all-party delegation.

He maintained that the INLD was pressing for the early implementation of the SC orders on the SYL by organising various protests inside and outside the state.

“We want to know what transpired between the CM and the PM. He should have taken us along. Let him now at least give the House a detailed account of his meeting,” Abhay demanded.

Even as the Treasury Benches tried to explain that the special session was for passing the GST Bill, Abhay said his party and the public was only interested in knowing the fate of the SYL and all other issues were secondary.

Former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, too, said the CM should tell the House of the assurance given by the PM. “The PM’s assurance on the subject is crucial since the state will prepare its future course of action based on that,” he remarked.

The Speaker assured them that the CM would settle their queries, but members of both the parties were adamant on an immediate response. With that not coming, the Congress staged a walkout, while the INLD repeatedly raised the demand, leading to pandemonium.