CM Saini’s couplet triggers uproar in House, Congress demands withdrawal

The Haryana Vidhan Sabha on Wednesday witnessed uproarious scenes as an “objectionable” couplet recited by Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini during his reply on an adjournment motion on law and order stalled proceedings on the last day of the monsoon session.

Lighter moments

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Vinesh Phogat’s debut: Congress MLA and Olympian wrestler Vinesh Phogat made her maiden appearance in the monsoon session.

Walk-talk politics: In reply to Congress MLA Ashok Arora’s query on garbage dumping near Brahma Sarovar, CM Saini quipped that Arora did not need to raise the issue in the House since they had already discussed it during their morning walks. As Arora rued that his concerns remained unaddressed, Congress MLA Geeta Bhukkal advised him, “Stop going for walks with the CM if you want your issues addressed.”

Speaker advised to ‘cool down’: During the row over the couplet, Congress MLA Raghuvir Kadian told Speaker Kalyan, “Zara thandi nazar rakha karo,” a light-hearted dig at the Speaker for losing his cool amid heated exchanges.

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The ruckus began right after the question hour, when Congress MLAs demanded withdrawal of the couplet, questioning whom the CM was referring to. Leading the charge, senior Congress MLA Geeta Bhukkal pressed Speaker Harvinder Kalyan for a ruling, asserting, “It is the right of the Opposition to speak up.”

Speaker Kalyan, however, termed the Congress’ protests as “pressure tactics” and insisted he would not give in to noise. He assured that the Opposition would be allowed to speak only after returning to their seats.

While CM Saini clarified that he had not used the word in the manner the Opposition perceived, he sought to explain that the couplet referred to “an illustrious Army man who had guarded India’s borders.” The clarification failed to pacify the Opposition, which demanded an outright withdrawal.

Matters escalated after minister Krishan Bedi launched an attack on the Congress, provoking slogan shouting of “goondagardi nahi chaleygi” from the Opposition. Congress MLAs trooped into the well, forcing adjournments as chaos engulfed the House. Despite the Speaker’s repeated requests, Bedi refused to sit down, further intensifying the din.

When the Chief Minister gestured to his party members, BJP MLAs returned to their seats, but the Congress refused to relent. Leader of the Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda intervened, urging the CM to withdraw his words. “Ruling party has its way, the Opposition has its say. While speaking, anybody can falter. However, if a mistake is made, there is no harm in withdrawing the words. I have done it, too,” Hooda said.

Transport Minister Anil Vij, however, countered sharply, saying, “If the Opposition has the right to speak, it should have the capacity to listen as well.”

As the commotion persisted, Speaker Kalyan reminded both sides not to make an issue out of everything. He assured that he would look into the demand for expunging the remarks. Later in the afternoon, he informed the House that the objectionable words had already been expunged a day earlier. CM Saini added that he had urged the Speaker to drop the words if they were deemed inappropriate.

With that, the House moved on to zero hour, but not before the Opposition had made its point and the treasury benches had defended the CM’s stand.