CM Saini slams Congress over Assembly protest, says 'breaking rules not appropriate'

CHANDIGARH: Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Tuesday hit out at the Congress over its protest during the Monsoon session of the state Assembly, saying the right to protest did not permit lawmakers to violate rules or manhandle security personnel.

Speaking to reporters after the conclusion of the session, Saini said the Opposition played an important role in a democracy but its rights were accompanied by responsibility and decorum. “Breaking rules in the name of protest or manhandling security personnel is not appropriate under any circumstances. It is not appropriate to take out one’s political anger on any employee,” he said.

The controversy relates to an August 27 protest by Congress MLAs, led by Leader of the Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda, who wore black and marched from the high court roundabout towards the Vidhan Sabha carrying placards on various issues. Security personnel stopped the legislators near the Assembly entrance and told them they could not enter the premises with the placards. The Congress subsequently alleged that its MLAs were mistreated and manhandled by security personnel.

‘MLAs not above law’

Rejecting the Congress charge, Saini said the Vidhan Sabha had its own dignity, traditions and security protocols that every member was required to follow. “Being an MLA does not mean that a person is above the rules and law,” he said.

The chief minister claimed some Congress MLAs went to the extent of “manhandling” security personnel and alleged that Hooda was also involved. Referring to Hooda’s experience as a former chief minister and his present position as Leader of the Opposition, Saini said greater restraint and decorum were expected from such a senior leader.

He said police personnel deployed at the Assembly were merely performing their duties and deserved the same respect accorded to elected representatives. Saini urged the Congress leadership to introspect and said expressing regret if a security official had been treated improperly would not diminish the stature of any leader.

Poster row resurfaces

Saini also accused the Congress of undermining the dignity of the Assembly inside the House, referring to an August 27 incident involving suspended Congress MLA Jarnail Singh.

Singh, the legislator from Ratia, had displayed a poster demanding an apology from those who considered the “murderers of Sikhs in 1984” as role models. Saini alleged that the poster was subsequently snatched by Congress MLA Induraj Narwal “at the behest” of Hooda and thrown inside the House in a derogatory manner.

Singh had later told reporters that Narwal had taken the poster from him. Earlier this year, the Haryana Congress suspended five MLAs, including Singh, from the party’s primary membership for alleged cross-voting in the March Rajya Sabha elections.