Khattar pushes back Hooda’s proposal for resolution against farm laws

Last updated on February 20th, 2023 at 01:24 pm

On Thursday, Haryana opposition leader, Bhupinder Singh Hooda in a verbal discord with Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar criticized the latter for his support towards the three controversial farm laws, recently passed by the center. The confrontation between both the leaders ensued during the resumption of the Monsoon session in Vidhan Sabha.

Hooda strongly opposed the new farm legislation and demanded a resolution in place. Khattar right away slammed Hooda’s proposal saying, “Such a resolution cannot be moved in the House and shall not be allowed. I will bring a resolution to thank the central government for bringing in these three farm legislation and the House will pass it”.

Khattar disparaged Hooda’s intention and said that he was only condemning the laws for the sake of condemning. He said, “There is a manner if you want to raise your voice. There should be a resolution. You will keep condemning and we shall keep appreciating. Resolution has to be moved at least 15 days in advance”.

Khattar added, “MSP was first introduced during the time of Lal Bahadur Shastri. They [Congress] are not raising the issue of a legislation ensuring MSP. Why did they [Congress] never think of coming up with a resolution ensuring MSP in all these years. They are just misleading the people that MSP will end. However, the fact is that for over the last one month, procurement is going on across Haryana on MSP. They talk of Punjab, which is only talking about the MSP on two crops. We are giving it on various other crops. They [Congress] are only running a misinformation campaign. They are patronising people who are disturbing law and order”.

The House Speaker Gian Chand Gupta joined Khattar and questioned the legal grounds of Hooda’s resolution demand. Gupta told Hooda, “I have taken legal opinion on it and it can not be taken up in the Vidhan Sabha.”

Despite being pressurised by the ruling government, the state Congress leaders including Jagbir Malik, Hooda, Kiran Choudhry, Bishan Lal Saini refused to give in and raised demand for holding detailed discussions over the matter. The opposition leaders also showed the Call Attention Notices, given by them, which were rejected by the Speaker.

Senior Congress leader Kiran Choudhry said, “We also wanted a discussion on crop procurement, and crop compensation but none of those were accepted. The government knows that their decisions are anti-farmer, thus they do not want to discuss it. If the government moves a resolution appreciating the three central farm laws, we will strongly oppose it and condemn it. It will expose this government that calls itself the protector of farmers’ interests.”

Besides farm bills, the opposition party also demanded an extension of the session by two more days and discussion on various topics including registry scam, deteriorating law and order, assaults on women across Haryana, privatization of electricity, liquor scam, and plight of people.