Haryana Budget session: Congress stages walkout over 'house arrest' of party leaders
Bhupinder Hooda questions government over alleged detention of Congress leaders ahead of MNREGA protest
The Congress staged a walkout during the Budget session of the Haryana Assembly on Wednesday to protest the alleged “house arrest” of its leaders and workers, forcing the party to drop its planned gherao of the Assembly.
After the question hour, Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda raised the issue of the house arrest of district presidents and other leaders, while MLAs waved photographs in the House.
Hooda sought to know if the government had directed the police to detain its leaders to prevent them from joining protests against MGNREGA.
Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini said he had no knowledge of any such order and that the Haryana Police were not involved. Heated exchanges ensued, with BJP ministers Krishan Bedi and Mahipal Dhanda leading the charge.
Speaker Harvinder Kalyan noted that the Congress protest had caused inconvenience the previous day. He added that the House had discussed the matter and decided that no protest would be held on Assembly premises.
The Speaker further stated that the High Court had taken cognisance and the UT Administration was within its rights to act to prevent a recurrence.
After CM Nayab Saini denied any such involvement, the Congress staged a walkout.
Later, the CM said that the Congress had moved an adjournment motion, which the Speaker accepted. The motion, concerning alleged irregularities in recruitment by the HPSC and HSSC and appointments of outsiders, is scheduled to be taken up in the afternoon session.
“The Congress was looking for a way out and used this as an escape route,” the CM said, adding that the Haryana Police were sensitive and had not detained anyone.
