Amid heated debate between Treasury and Opposition Benches, the Haryana Vidhan Sabha on Friday passed the Aparna Institution (Taking over of Management and Control) Bill, 2025 to provide for the taking over, in the public interest, for a limited period, for proper and efficient management and control of Aparna Institution situated in Village Silokhra, in Gurugram district.
Speaking during the discussion on the bill, Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini said that the objective of the bill is to further the ideology of Swami Dhirendra Brahmachari for public welfare. He said that a yoga ashram has already been established on the land, and Swami Dhirendra Brahmachari had envisioned that health facilities should also be made available to the public there. Thus, the government aims to ensure the realization of the spirit of public welfare by taking control of this ashram. He clarified that the introduction of this bill does not bypass any central government laws; instead, all necessary processes are being followed in compliance with them.
He further said that following the death of Swami Dhirendra Brahmachari, the institution was divided into two factions. For the past three decades, litigation has been ongoing between them, rendering the institution inactive. Therefore, the primary purpose of bringing this bill is to ensure that the land of the institution does not fall into the wrong hands and that its benefits continue to reach the people.
Participating in the discussion, Congress MLA BB Batra opposed the bill and said that it cannot be presented in the Assembly as it is beyond the jurisdiction of the government. Presenting this bill is illegal. It is a fraud and unconstitutional. It can be challenged in the Court. “We, all will be blamed for passing it in the House, “he added. Former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said, “It is a serious issue and we are not satisfied by the answer of the Government. Under the available law, the Government is empowered to acquire it. Amid uproar between the leaders of BJP and Congress, this bill passed and Congress staged a boycott.
Govt taking measures to control air pollution: Minister tells Assembly
The Haryana government has been taking various measures to control air pollution that include action against the units violating norms, Environment Minister Rao Narbir Singh said in the Assembly on Friday. Singh said that inspections for air pollution are carried out by officers of the Haryana Station Pollution Control Board and requisite action is being taken.
Large scale awareness activities have been carried out. The HSPCB has closed 480 industries and imposed environmental compensation of approximately Rs 35 crore on industries causing air pollution in 2023 and 2024, he said. The minister was replying to a Calling Attention Motion of Congress members, including Aditya Surjewala and Kuldeep Vats, seeking to draw the attention of the House towards a matter of urgent public importance "regarding the dangerously poor AQI in Haryana across 24 cities situated in and around NCR, and the state's significant lapse in data collection and reporting". "I would like to inform that the government is very much concerned about the problem of air pollution. The Air Quality Index (AQI) of 24 cities of Haryana is not dangerously poor as mentioned in the Calling Attention Notice, though it is exceeding the allowed limits. "The yearly AQI has been less than 200 which comes in the moderate category. However, it exceeded 200 for Faridabad and Gurugram in the years 2023 and 2024," Singh said.
Govt providing various facilities to cancer patients: Minister
Responding to a calling attention motion regarding cancer patients in the State, Haryana Health Minister Kumari Arti Singh Rao informed that Population Based Screening (PBS) of 30 years and above population is being carried out for early diagnosis and management of NCDs including common cancers that are Oral, Breast and Cervical Cancers. About 80 lakh persons have been screened till date, against the target of 1,10,56,289.
Rao said that as per Risk Factor Assessment Survey conducted in Haryana by PGIMER Chandigarh, physical inactivity, unhealthy diet, tobacco consumption, alcohol consumption, air pollution, pesticides and chemicals, infections etc. are the most common risk factors for Non-Communicable Diseases including Cancers. Most common cancers reported in men are of Oral Cavity, Lungs and Esophagus and in women are of Breast, Cervix, Ovary and Oral Cavity. She said that Management of Cancer patients involves early detection, treatment and subsequent follow up. Multidisciplinary and multi pronged approach is required to manage these cases at tertiary level medical institutions where all types of facilities for diagnosis, surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy with a team of physicians, surgeons, pathologists, oncologists and radiotherapists are available.
