Session likely to be stormy

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 25

The monsoon session of the Vidhan Sabha which begins tomorrow is likely to be a stormy affair with the Opposition, especially the Congress, likely to take the BJP government head-on on the findings of the Prakash Singh committee report as also the farmers’ insurance scheme.

Since this is the first session of the Assembly after the submission of the Prakash Singh committee report on the violence that followed the Jat agitation earlier this year, the Opposition will target the government on the “failure at all levels” of governance.

“The committee report mentions that there was lack of direction from the top brass in the state which is a direct reflection on the working of the Manohar Lal Khattar government. Its leaders must explain the action taken,” said CLP leader Kiran Chaudhary.

Since Haryana is primarily an agrarian state, the issue of crop insurance being imposed upon the farmers has not gone down well in the state. The Congress and the INLD have been united in opposing the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana. Former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda has already termed it as a “loot scheme” while the INLD has demanded a rollback.

However, sparks are likely to fly as soon as the obituary references are over on the issue of suspension of the three Congress MLAs Kuldeep Sharma, Jagbir Singh Malik and Jaiveer Singh. They were suspended in the last session for six months for “disrupting and tearing up the Governor’s address”. The Congress wants this revoked, failing which the MLAs are unlike to participate in the proceedings, according to its leaders. They will, like the Budget Session, hold a parallel session outside.

While the monsoon session is likely to be a two-day affair only, the final call will be take in the Business Advisory Committee of the Assembly which will meet before proceedings begin.

Legislators across party lines are eagerly waiting for this session since the government is likely to bring a Bill hiking their salaries and perks, a recommendation for which was made in the last session. Former MLAs, too, have already represented to the BJP government, seeking a hike in pension.

The government will attempt to deflect criticism by focusing on Olympian Sakshi Malik’s achievement and the upcoming golden jubilee celebrations of the state.