Amid the cacophony, exchange of personal digs and the general smug laughter of MlAs, the ongoing budget session of Haryana Vidhan Sabha is also witnessing mesmerising Urdu couplets and shayaris. In Haryana Vidhan Sabha, where political tempers often run high over various issues, Urdu couplets and shayaris are frequently recited by the MlAs to calm things down during the heated debates. Many MlAs have been seen quoting the finest Urdu couplets and Shayari in the assembly to make their point, pick apart the rivals and to counter-attack.
From the couplets of 19th century famous poet Mirza Ghalib to self coined colourful couplets, the MlAs are referring to all. Congress legislative Party chief Kiran Chaudhary’s recourse to poetry is often an attempt to lambast the Manohar lal Khattar-led State Government. Chaudhary is at her best oratorical skills interspersed with ‘shero-shayari’ while participating in various debates. Speaking during budget discussion, she had taunted the BJP with Ghalib’s couplet , “Suna tha urange Galib ke purze, dhekne ham bhi gaye, magar tamasha na hua,” pointing out that what was promised to be a big-bang reforms and people-oriented budget did not even end in a whimper.
Taking on the opposition, Haryana Finance Minister Capt. Abhimanyu also chose Ghalib’s couplet to respond to Chaudhary’s criticism of the budget before wrapping up his reply on budget. “Hazaaron khwahishen aisi ke har khwahish pe dam nikle, Bohat niklay mere armaan, lekin phir bhi kam nikle,” he said. The Finance Minister had also made liberal use of couplets during his budget speech which evoked thunderous response from the treasury benches.
“Maana ki andhera ghana hai, Par diya jalana kaha mana hai,” he had said, signalising that the BJP has inherited shattered economy with coffers virtually empty in Haryana. Joining the chorus, former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, who generally refrains from engaging in heated debates, is also seen responding to the treasury benches by coining his own couplets. “Hum Congress ke hai, Congress mein rahenge, Aaj yaha bethe the, kal jaha bethe the, waha phir bethenge,” said he while responding to BJP MlA’s barbs on how Congress legislators continue to shift their loyalties to BJP as Congress will never come to power again.
Apart from this, a BJP MlA went a step ahead by reciting a poem for her daughter in the assembly during the discussion on Governor’s address while many MlAs are coming to the fore with speeches laced with Sanskrit Slokas. On the other hand, the Chief Minister Manohar lal Khattar, who is a man of few words, has so far kept his speeches simple in the Assembly. He, however, had used the famous quote, “If you do not understand my silence, you will not understand my words… Silence bears more strength,” hitting back at the Opposition, which took potshots at him for remaining silent on important issues during the Assembly session.
Not to be outdone, the outspoken Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij has his witty one-liners evoking the peals of laughter across the House many times.