The Haryana Assembly Session on Tuesday began with ruckus as Congress sought apology from the State Education Minister Ram Bilas Sharma for his remarks about former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.
The legislators of ruling party and Opposition engaged in a heated argument over the issue following which Ram Bilas Sharma gave a clarification saying that he did not mean to be disrespectful towards the country’s first Prime Minister but was citing a Haryanvi anecdote. The Education Minister had used a cuss word on Nehru during an anecdote he cited, speaking at an event at a University campus last month.
Both BJP and Congress again engaged in a war of words on the issue of change in land use (ClU) and the white paper released on State finances by the State Government. In reply to a question, the BJP led State Government provided a CD giving details of names of the persons to whom the change of land use (ClU) was given by the previous Governments from 2000 to 2014. However, the Congress MlAs sought laptops to read the entire document.
Speaking on the issue, Haryana Finance Minister Captain Abhimanyu informed the House that during past 14-years, 3192 Change of land Use (ClUs) had been approved.
The Minister said that during the last ten years of erstwhile Congress Government, 4,500 acres of land had been released when the acquisition process had reached advanced stage.
The leader of Opposition and senior INlD leader, Abhay Chautala while intervening in the issue, claimed that through a RTI reply they had come to know that actually 16,000 acres of land had been released by the previous Congress regime from the official acquisition process after it had issued notifications to acquire them for public purpose. The land released is 16,004 acres, not 4500 acres and all alleged land scandals should be probed, he said.
Responding to this, Capt. Abhimanyu said that the State Government is committed to probe the release of every single inch of land released during the previous Congress regime. The Cabinet Minister also took a veiled dig at the Opposition Congress, saying that “those who were in the know of things (who were in power for 10 years and knew what was going on) are today so keen to go through the CD that they are seeking laptops.”
“They (Cong MlAs) want to know whether their names are there in the CD or not,” added Health Minister Anil Vij. During the argument that lasted for a long time, the Health Minister and other BJP legislators also asked the Opposition to walkout, if they want.
Verbal duels were also exchanged between Abhay Chautala and former Speaker Kuldeep Sharma, with INlD reminding the latter that he should remember the days when he was the Speaker and did not allow the Opposition members to speak. Hitting back, Congress Kuldeep Sharma, said, “I can well understand your sentiments since your party has become BJP’s ‘B’ team”. The Congress also cornered the ruling party over its failure to elect the Deputy Speaker of the House.
CONGRESS STAGES WAlKOUT
legislators of Congress walked out of the Assembly on Tuesday in protest against the deferment of an adjournment motion moved by them demanding a discussion on the issue of loss suffered by the farmers due to recent rains and hailstorm in different parts of the State.
Speaker Kanwar Pal Gujjar deferred the adjournment motion which was given by the Congress on Tuesday morning till Wednesday and stated that it was ‘out of order’.
However, the Congress led by legislature party leader, Kiran Choudhary insisted the Chair to allow their adjournment motion first as it pertained to an emergent issue concerning the farmers.
As soon as the question hour was over, MlA Karan Singh Dalal requested the Speaker to allow their adjournment motion, saying great loss has been caused to the farmers’ crops due to recent heavy rains and hailstorm.
The Speaker told him that it had been admitted for Wednesday and asked Dalal to resume his seat to allow the Calling Attention notice on spread of swine flu in the State, an important matter concerning the public, be taken up first.
Amidst noisy scenes in the House, Kiran Choudhary requested the Speaker that rules provide that the House can suspend the listed business and immediately take up the adjournment motion for discussion.
Moments later, the Congress legislators stood up from their seats and raised slogans terming the BJP led State Government as ‘anti-farmers party’ and staged a brief walk out on the issue.
Speaking to the mediapersons, Kiran Choudhary said that the Manohar lal Khattar’s Government is anti-farmer.
“The unconcerned State Government is not coming out with details of the damage while the farmers are living in distress. And, it was unfortunate that permission for discussion on the farmers’ issue was not granted by the Speaker.
Calling BJP as anti-farmer party, she said, The BJP Government which keeps swearing by the farmers is yet to announce liberal compensation for farmers and assess the loss to the crops.
“Even they (INlD) are supporting them (the BJP). Both are playing a friendly match. They (INlD) are playing the role of BJP’s ‘B’ team,” alleged Choudhary.
Meanwhile, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar lal Khattar on Tuesday directed Agriculture Department to assess the quantum of loss caused to crops in each area, district and in each village of the State due to incessant unseasonal rains during the months of February and March 2015 till date in order to provide requisite compensation to farmers concerned.
INlD’S ABHAY CHAUTAlA HITS OUT AT BJP OVER FARMERS’ ISSUE
leader of Opposition in Haryana, INlD’s Abhay Chautala on Tuesday slammed the State Government for not coming up with a plan to assist the farmers who suffered huge losses due to recent rains.
Citing the example of Punjab Government which sought `10,000 per acre as compensation for rain affected farmers, Chautala asked Haryana Government to approach the Centre for the same to provide financial assistance to the farmers.
Speaking during the discussion on Governor’s address, Chautala said that promises like implementation of the Swaminathan Commission report, stipend for unemployed youth among others made by the BJP in the election manifesto should be taken up soon.
Chautala also expressed concerns over the increasing crime rate, poor power supply in the State.
He also demanded probe in the release of around 16,000 acres of land by the previous Congress regime from official acquisition process and also appealed that the land Acquisition Act, brought as an ordinance, should be re-considered for the benefits of farmers.
“The House should pass a two-line resolution in the Assembly rejecting the amendments in the land Acquisition Act,” he added.
SAY ‘NAMASKAR’ TO AVOID SWINE FlU: VIJ
Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij appealed people to shun foreign culture, adopt India’s culture and instead of handshakes greet each other with folded hands to prevent the spread of swine flu.
“In 2015, so far 252 positive swine flu cases have been reported in Haryana with 27 deaths. In Haryana on March 8, seven positive cases of swine flu were reported. Of the 252 cumulative positive cases, 8 are on ventilator and 39 patients have been admitted in hospital,” said Vij in response to a calling attention motion on the matter in Haryana Vidhan Sabha.
As many as 710 persons have been given chemoprophylaxis to total contact. Maximum cases of 47 are reported in Faridabad district followed by 36 in Hisar and 32 in Gurgaon.
He said, “All the districts are prepared to provide ventilator services by making liaison with the private setups as and when required, 70 ventilators are available in Government Medical Colleges and District hospitals and 254 ventilators have been identified in private institutes and Isolation wards with 142 beds have been identified in all the districts.”
In all districts, a total of 1,719 PPE kits, 3,615 tablets of 30mg Tamiflu, 135 tablets of 45mg Tamiflu and 13,329 tablets of 75mg Tamiflu facility have been provided, he added.
later, he informed that in order to provide better health services to the people, the State Government will recruit 550 new doctors, set up four new laboratories and purchase 46 new ambulances.