‘Political tinge’ in Governor’s Address draws sharp reaction

Pradeep Sharma

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 21

Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and Leader of Opposition Abhay Chautala today sparred over the “political tinge” in the Governor’s Address.

The stage for war of words between Khattar and Chautala was set when the latter, during his speech on Governor’s Address, alleged that Governor Satyadeo Narain Arya was “misled” by the state government into reading an address which clearly toed the BJP’s political ideology and not the government’s achievements and reforms.

Chautala took strong exception to a reference by the Governor to the BJP’s recent victories in five municipal corporations and the recent Jind Assembly byelection.

During his Address to the Haryana Assembly on its inaugural day yesterday, Arya had reportedly praised the government’s commitment to “sabka saath, sabka vikas” and “Haryana ek, Haryanvi ek”, saying that the results of the recent poll in five MCs in Hisar, Karnal, Panipat, Rohtak and Yamunanagar and the Jind byelection were a “solid vindication” of the government’s policies.

“The Governor preferred to skip a major portion of the Address, saying that it be “taken as read”, but referred to the recent BJP victories in MC poll and JInd bypoll, raising a question mark over the government’s intention to promote the ideology of a particular political party rather than the state’s policies,” Chautala asserted.

However, Khattar joined issue with Chautala, claiming that there was nothing wrong in the Governor lauding the state government’s policies aimed at ushering in an era of development and transparency. “The Governor’s Address was being misinterpreted by the Opposition to divert attention from the real issues,” Khattar said.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ram Bilas Sharma and Finance Minister Capt Abhimanyu countered Chautala, saying that skipping a portion of the Address was the Governor’s ‘prerogative’ and was an established practice.

Point, counter-point

"Governor Satyadeo Narain Arya was ‘misled’ by the state government into reading an address which clearly toed BJP’s political ideology and not government’s achievements and reforms."  —Abhay Chautala, Leader of Opposition

"There is nothing wrong in Governor lauding the state government’s policies aimed at ushering in an era of development and transparency. The Governor’s Address was being misinterpreted by the Opposition to divert attention from the real issues."   —Manohar Lal Khattar, Chief Minister