CHANDIGARH: The no-confidence motion moved up by the main Opposition Congress in Haryana against the BJP-JJP-led government was defeated on Wednesday as 55 legislators cast their vote against the motion, while 32 MLAs voted in support of the motion. It is worth mentioning that out of the seven independent legislators, five came up in support of the ruling faction and used their vote against the motion. Among the independent legislators, Balraj Kundu and Somveer Sangawan polled in support of the motion, saying that the state government has left no stone unturned to increase the problems of the farmers.
In the 90-member Haryana Assembly, the ruling BJP and its alliance partner JJP proved their strength as both succeeded in getting the support of 55 legislators, while requirement for the same was 46.It is worth mentioning that two Assembly seats are lying vacate as INLD legislator Abhay Singh Chautala resigned from the post on 27 February in support of the farmers and against the three contentions agricultural laws, while another Congress MLA Pardeep Chaudhary’s (Kalka seat) membership was cancelled after he was sentenced to three-year imprisonment in a case in Himachal Pradeshrecently.
The no-confidence motion was moved up Congress leader and Leader of Opposition (LOP) Bhupinder Singh Hooda after the Speaker Gyan Chand Gupta started the Assembly proceeding.The requirement for moving the motion was the consent of 18 Congress legislators which was provided by the party.
An issue which has become the talk of town is that the three JJP leaders who were supporting the farmers continuously also cast their vote against the Congress’ no-confidence motion.Earlier, all the three legislators had come up in full support of the agrarian community, saying that the farmers’ issue is of utmost importance and in the wake of this, the ruling faction is required to take necessary steps to sort out their problem. Several times, they had reportedly criticised their own government with regard to the farmers› issues. That had led to added worries for the JJP. However,the three legislators voting against the no-trust vote may be considered a setback to the farmers’ union who were expecting them to go against the government, but that did not materialize.
Chief Minister Manohar Lal said: “The Congress knew that the BJP-JJP government had sufficient majority; even then, the Opposition moved the no-confidence motion for the party’s political vendetta, not for the farmers.” He added that knowing the whole scenario, the Congress presented the motion which fell flat, and this clearly indicates that the people and farmers of the state are relying upon the ruling government.
“We know that we will not win the confidence of the Opposition, but we will take this opportunity to win the confidence of the masses,» Manohar Lal had said while replying to the no-confidence motion.Reciting a couplet by poet Bashir Badr, the CM said, «Mukhalfat se meri shaksiyat sawarti hai, main dusmano ka bada aitram karta hun (criticism makes my personality shine, I respect my enemies a lot).” He also thanked the Opposition for providing him with an opportunity to recall the works done by his government in the last six years.
Attacking the Opposition, especially Congress for «never showing the confidence in any development work done by the government», the CM said, «The Opposition has been out of power for long and they are now seeing a mirage in the desert, but what they›ll receive is just sand.»
Reacting to the same, Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda said that a few of the legislators and even Cabinet ministers were willing to cast their vote in support of the no-confidence motion, but they were under heavy pressure from the government and forcibly made to vote against the motion. The whole scenario clearly reveals that the government is standing with the support of 55 legislators, he said.In the Assembly, Hooda commented on the ongoing farmers’ protests and said: “More than 250 farmers died on the border.”
It is pertinent to mention that the no-confidence motion was moved up by the Congress over the issues of the three agricultural laws, hike in fuel price and issues related to the agrarian community etc. Apart from this, the verbal spat between the Chief Minister and the Leader of Opposition led to funny situations on several occasions.
(With agency inputs)