Congress MLAs Demand Debate on Law and Order
CHANDIGARH: The opening day of the Haryana Assembly’s monsoon session descended into disorder as opposition Congress MLAs disrupted proceedings, pressing for an immediate debate on the state’s deteriorating law and order situation. Their persistent protests led to multiple adjournments, culminating in Speaker Harvinder Kalyan adjourning the House until Monday.
The proar erupted over the case of Bhiwani’s lady teacher Manisha’s death. The Congress moved an adjournment motion concerning Manisha’s death and the deteriorating law-and-order situation.
Demanding a discussion on the motion, Congress legislators created a ruckus in the House.
Amid the chaos, Speaker Harvinder Kalyan was forced to adjourn the House six times within hours. Finally, the motion was admitted, and a discussion has been scheduled for August 26.
The session, which commenced at 2pm, was marked by heated exchanges as Congress legislators, led by figures like Geeta Bhukkal from Jhajjar, stormed the well of the House, demanding that no other business be taken up until the issue of rising crime, particularly against women, and growing gangsterism was addressed. Bhukkal invoked Rule 66 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Haryana Assembly to push for an adjournment motion, emphasizing the urgency of discussing public safety concerns. The opposition also criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) flagship “Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao” campaign, displaying posters questioning its effectiveness with slogans like “Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao kya hua?” (What happened to Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao?).
Speaker Kalyan attempted to restore order, urging the Congress MLAs to allow scheduled proceedings, including the Question Hour, to continue. However, the opposition’s refusal to relent forced two adjournments during the day. At 3:11 p.m., Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini assured the House that the government was prepared to discuss the law and order situation and answer opposition queries. Despite this, Congress MLAs continued their protest, assembling in the well with banners, leading to a second adjournment of 20 minutes. When the disruptions persisted, Speaker Kalyan adjourned the House until Monday, August 25, 2025.
The Congress’s agitation stems from growing concerns over increasing incidents of crime, including high-profile cases of violence against women and alleged gang-related activities in the state. Former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, a prominent Congress leader, has repeatedly accused the BJP-led government of failing to curb crime and ensure public safety. In recent months, the opposition has pointed to incidents like extortion threats to MLAs and rising drug-related issues as evidence of a collapsing law enforcement framework.
This is not the first time the Haryana Assembly has witnessed such disruptions. Similar protests by Congress MLAs over law and order issues have led to adjournments in previous sessions, including during the 2023 budget session when they demanded the ouster of a minister accused of sexual harassment. Political analysts suggest that the opposition is leveraging these issues to challenge the BJP’s governance narrative ahead of future electoral battles.
Chief Minister Saini, defending his government, reiterated its commitment to addressing law and order concerns and promised a comprehensive discussion in the House. The government is also expected to table key legislative proposals during the monsoon session, including amendments to existing laws and new initiatives like the Lado Lakshmi Yojana, aimed at providing financial assistance to women.
