Sandeep thumping desk, Khattar reiterates: won’t seek resignation

As Zero Hour commenced, Congress MLAs led by Geeta Bhukkal were up on their feet demanding that Sandeep Singh be suspended from the House and that CM should seek his resignation. Speaker Gian Chand Gupta pointed out that the matter was sub-judice and therefore could not be discussed in the Assembly, but the Congress members insisted that the minister should either resign or the CM should remove him from the Cabinet.

As Gupta went on to read out the names of MLAs who would be allowed to speak during the Zero Hour, the Congress members began raising slogans. Gupta said, “Nothing shall be recorded. Whatever you [Opposition] are saying, nothing shall be taken on record”.

He also asked Congress MLAs if they wanted to stage a walkout on the issue. “You are insulting the honourable courts of law. When the matter is sub-judice, wait for the court’s verdict. If the court convicts him [Sandeep Singh], he will be removed,” Gupta asserted, requesting the Opposition MLAs to return to their seats.

Intervening, Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda said, “The matter is sub-judice and we are not debating that. We are only saying that either he [Sandeep Singh] should resign on moral grounds or the chief minister should seek his resignation”.

Khattar, however, countered the Congress, saying, “We know where they (opposition) stand on moral ground and where we stand. We are answerable to the public. The Opposition cannot compel me to take any decision. If they raise moral grounds, hum inki dhajjiyan uda denge (we will show them their place)”.

Hooda took a strong objection to Khattar’s remarks. “Is it Parliamentary language…how can anybody use such language,” Hooda asked. Khattar, however, retorted that “such foul language” was being used by Opposition members. “I only said that we will go among the masses and make them aware about what all you have done, what kind of atrocities used to take place against women, underprivileged during your rule”.

However, the Speaker said there is a list of unparliamentary words and if the ‘dhajjiyan uda denge’ is in the list, then it would be expunged.

Meanwhile, senior Congress member Raghuvir Singh Kadian said the chief minister has been defending his minister. In the previous session of the Assembly too he had been assertive that he would not seek Sandeep Singh’s resignation, he said.

Replying to Kadian, Khattar said, “Yes, I said it last time and I say it today , no resignation will be soiught”. Geeta Bhukkal said it was ironic that while the woman coach, who is the complainant in the case, had recently been suspended by the state sports department, Sandeep Singh continues to be the minister despite the case against him.

Meanwhile, the woman coach’s lawyer, Advocate Deepanshu Bansal Monday, reacting to Khattar’s statement in the House, said on X, “Today is a black day for women’s safety in Haryana. Shocked to see how M L Khattar ji is protecting an accused who has been charge-sheeted with offences of sexual harassment”.