Chaos erupted in the Haryana Legislative Assembly on Friday as a discussion on the national song 'Vande Mataram' turned into a major political confrontation. The session witnessed unruly scenes, forcing Speaker Harvinder Kalyan to order the eviction of several Congress legislators from the House.
What Sparked the Ruckus?
The controversy began when Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, while speaking on a proposal to mark 150 years of 'Vande Mataram', made remarks about former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru's stance on the Muslim League's demands. Saini elaborated on the historical pressures faced by Nehru, a statement that did not sit well with the opposition benches.
Led by Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda, the Congress MLAs expressed strong resentment, accusing the Chief Minister of distorting historical facts. Ignoring repeated warnings from the Speaker, a group of agitated Congress members walked up to the well of the House, leading to nearly 15 minutes of continuous disruption.
The Eviction and Continued Proceedings
After issuing final warnings, Speaker Harvinder Kalyan took a firm stand. He directed the assembly marshals to escort out the "unruly" MLAs. Seven Congress legislators, including two women, were physically removed from the chamber amid resistance. The ejected MLAs were identified as Jassi Patwar, Balram Dandi, Geeta Bhukkal, Shakuntala Khatak, Devender Hans, Kuldeep Vats, and Vikas Saharan.
Remarkably, the Speaker urged CM Saini to continue with his speech despite the strong protests. Saini then spoke for over 50 minutes, covering various aspects of the national song. He emphasized the song's historical journey, stating, "When this song completed 50 years, India was already under British rule. When it turned 100, the situation was worse. Now, after 150 years, we have an opportunity to glorify it."
Opposition Skepticism and Final Resolution
Earlier, LoP Bhupinder Singh Hooda had questioned the very need for such a discussion. He argued that since 'Vande Mataram' is already a constitutionally recognized national song and an admitted fact, there was no necessity for a debate on its significance. The proposal for the discussion and a resolution to organize special programs for the 150-year observance was moved by BJP MLA Ghanshyam Dass Arora.
After the resolution was passed and calm was restored, both Hooda and CM Saini requested the Speaker to allow the ejected Congress MLAs to return to the House for the remaining proceedings. The incident marked a dramatic second day of the ongoing winter session of the Haryana assembly, highlighting the deep political divisions over historical narratives.
