M A I N   N E W S

INLD members suspended for ‘misconduct’ in Assembly
Resolution flays Chautala for using ‘unparliamentary words’
Geetanjali Gayatri
Tribune News Service

Abhey to be reprimanded The Speaker announced that Abhey Chautala (pic) would be “reprimanded” in the next session for his “casteist remarks” against Chief Parliamentary Secretary and Congress MLA Jaiveer Balmiki. Abhey had allegedly made the remarks and threatened Balmiki on the opening day of the monsoon session.

Chandigarh, August 27
Following complete bedlam, three adjournments and continuous sloganeering, Haryana Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kuldeep Sharma today suspended all INLD members present in the House as also the lone MLA of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) for the remaining session for “misconduct”.

The House also passed a resolution condemning the Leader of the Opposition Om Prakash Chautala for using “unparliamentary words” for the Speaker and casting aspersions on the chair. The words were later expunged.

The Speaker announced that Abhey Chautala would be “reprimanded” in the next session for his “casteist remarks” against Chief Parliamentary Secretary and Congress MLA Jaiveer Balmiki.

Abhey had allegedly made the remarks and threatened Balmiki on the opening day of the monsoon session. The latter gave a representation to the Speaker seeking action against him. After hearing both the sides, the Speaker had promised to pass orders.

While all 29 INLD-SAD MLAs (one MLA was not present), including the Leader of the Opposition and his sons, Ajay and Abhey, were named, the INLD stuck to its guns and accused the Speaker of being “partisan” and turning a blind eye to the actions of Congressmen and taking the INLD MLAs to task.

Just after the question hour, the INLD sought to know the fate of their adjournment motion on the collapse of law and order in the state. The Speaker told them that it has been disallowed even as the INLD and the BJP members trooped into the well waving papers, seeking a discussion on the tardy progress in cases against nine MLAs.

To counter this, the Congress MLAs also rushed into the well even as Balmiki tried to seek “justice” for himself. Chaos ruled as sloganeering began from both the sides. Unable to restore discipline, the House was adjourned only to witness a repeat when it met again.

Balmiki urged the Speaker to “deliver” justice. While Chautala was speaking, education minister tried to intervene, claiming that the entire Balmiki community had its eyes on the Speaker to give justice, prompting Chautala to snub her for interrupting him. The MLAs of the treasury benches stood up and vociferously protested tone and tenor of the language used.

The INLD and the Congress MLAs were once again engaged in heated exchanges while INLD’s Mohd Illyas rushed the Deputy Speaker’s bench and tried to make his point. Sloganeering continued, forcing another adjournment.

When the proceedings resumed, Chautala Sr accused the Speaker of bias and used “unparliamentary words” making the treasury benches erupt again. Asked to withdraw him words, he refused, prompting more protests from the Congress.

Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, too, took strong exception to Chautala’s words and said the proceedings would go on only if he apologised.

Finally, Surjewala moved a resolution condemning Chautala for his use of words and sought that these be deleted.

As the clamour rose, the INLD members refused to return to their seats and were finally named. The marshals were called in to escort them out after which the House heard Balmiki again. The Speaker, stating that the visuals show a visibly agitated Abhey saying something, decided to “reprimand” him for his casteist remarks before proceedings resumed.