Haryana House debates no-trust motion against Manohar Lal Khattar govt
The no-confidence motion moved by the opposition Congress in Haryana Vidhan Sabha is unlikely to destabilize the Manohar Lal Khattar-led government considering the comfortable majority that the BJP-JJP alliance enjoys in the 90-member House. The move is being seen as an attempt by the opposition to embarrass the ruling alliance and would earn the Congress political mileage with the farmers agitating against the three central agri laws.
It was about two months ago when Leader of Opposition and former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda announced that he would move a no-confidence motion against the BJP-JJP alliance government. He submitted the motion in the Vidhan Sabha on March 5, the day budget session commenced. Accepting the motion, Speaker Gian Chand Gupta scheduled it for discussion on March 10.
The Assembly currently has an effective strength of 88 members after Indian National Lok Dal’s lone member Abhay Chautala resigned in solidarity with farmers and Congress MLA Pradeep Chaudhary was disqualified after being convicted in a riots case. In the current scenario, ruling alliance needs 45 members for majority, which the alliance with 50 members (BJP has 40 and the JJP 10) can easily achieve. Congress, on the other hand, has 30 MLAs. Seven are Independents, five of whom are supporting the government, while one member is of the Haryana Lokhit Party, who has also extended support to the government.
To ensure that they do not fall short of numbers, BJP, JJP and the Congress issued whips to their respective members for their compulsory presence in the House on Wednesday when the no-trust motion will be taken up for discussion.
Issuing the whip, Haryana minister and BJP’s chief whip Kanwar Pal said, “All the members of the BJP are requested to remain present in the House throughout the 10th day of March during the current budget session of Vidhan Sabha. They should not leave the chamber without prior permission of the Leader (of the House). Many important legislative matters are likely to come up for discussion. The members are requested to be present at the time of division/voting”.
Jannayak Janta Party’s chief whip Amarjeet Dhanda, while issuing the whip to his party legislators, said, “All JJP members are hereby informed that no-confidence against the Council of Ministers proposed by opposition will be brought in the Assembly on March 10. All members of JJP are therefore requested to be present positively in the House throughout the day and support the stand of the government against the no-confidence motion”.
For Congress, Bharat Bhushan Batra issued the whip. “The members of CLP are informed that no confidence motion against the government shall be listed on March 10 in the business of the House. I issue whip, that you must ensure your presence positively and support the vote of no confidence. Members are advised not to leave the House without prior permission of the CLP leader,” said the Congress chief whip.
Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar speaks in the Vidhan Sabha. (Twitter/@cmohry, File)
Result announced by Speaker. No-confidence motion supported by 32 members and opposed by 55 members. The No-confidence motion is defeated.
Speaker asks members who support no-confidence motion to rise. All Congress MLAs support no-confidence motion. All BJP-JJP MLAs vote against it.
JJP MLAs Ram Kumar Gautam and Devender Babli, who had been speaking against the government asking JJP to withdraw support from BJP also vote against the no-confidence motion. Gopal Kanda, too, supports the alliance, votes against the motion.
Speaker calls all Members to come back to their seats. Debate on no-confidence motion concludes. Speaker appoints two officers to do the counting on no-confidence motion.
The CM continues, “Farmers say that they will not sell milk for less than Rs 100. I am happy, farmers can sell it at Rs 150 also. But is it going to benefit anybody? Did it sell anywhere at this rate? I would request you all to help end this ongoing agitation.”
He adds, “Aag lagaane vaalon ko nahi hai iski khabar ke rukh hawaon ka agar badla toh khaak voh bhi ho jayenge.. rukh hawa ka badlega… When we go to farmers to talk, you raise slogans that we should not be allowed entry. I appeal to the entire House that everybody should vote against this no-confidence motion.”
As Hooda asks him to resume talks, the CM says, “Kisan morcha has yesterday told media that they have constituted a nine-member committee. I am sure that it will help resume talks. I agree talks should be taken forward. But I am saying that it is causing losses.”
He adds, “Talks will resume, suggestions are coming in. But the farm laws will not be repealed. I will not ask for the laws to be repealed. When I am not convinced, why will I say it? There can be amendments. But I am repeatedly saying that repealing the laws is not going to serve any purpose. If these had to be repealed, it would have happened two months ago. Whatever amendments will happen, it will be it the government or in the Supreme Court.”
Even as Congress MLA Raghuvir Kadiyan tries to interrupt him, CM Khattar said, “The Congress party will continue to sink deeper. Your political future is about to end. Who all have instigated farmers? Who all are instigating protestors? The people are watching it. So far it has caused a loss of Rs 212."
He adds, "Since November 26, industries associations have apprised us that they have incurred losses worth Rs 11,000 crore. Nobody from the opposition have so far said that this ongoing protest is wrong. Tomorrow, if situation deteriorates, it will disturb the state's peace, it will disturb the communal harmony.”
No freedom can be absolute, says the CM.
“People who are agitating feel that they have legitimate right to protest. They think they have freedom to do so. But freedom is not an absolute freedom. Wherever our freedom infringes upon anybody else’s, it ends. There’s a limit to this freedom,” he says.
He adds, “Whenever the administration believes it needs to take steps so that the law and order situation does not deteriorate, it does so. We stopped them (protesting farmers) from crossing the borders, but we decided not to use force. Use of force means lathi charge or opening gunfire. We used water cannons and tear gas but did not lose patience. They used huge mechanized vehicles to break the barricades. But our patience should not be taken as our weakness.”
“Those protestors aren't so many in number that they can scare us. They could be 1-2 lakh including their supporters, but we have a family of 2.75 crore. They are all our brothers and sisters,” he says.
Khattar gives assurance on the floor of the House that once the three farm laws are implemented and if it is felt that there is any loss to the farmers’ interests, the government will do anything and everything to protect them.
“I give a guarantee that mandis will not be shut down and MSP will also continue. Market fee in mandis is not imposed by way of any Act. It is a mere circular/ notification that is issued. It will continue like the way it is going,” he says.
He adds, “The Opposition is provoking farmers and making them think that if the laws are implemented, they will lose their land and income. You are forcing the farmers to think this way. Stop injecting them with these thoughts.”
Continuing his attack on the opposition, CM Manohar Lal Khattar says, “What will you achieve from this no-confidence motion? We will be benefitting with this move, not you.”
Speaking on the no-confidence motion, CM Manohar Lal Khattar said, “I am grateful to Congress. I have got an opportunity to tell everyone about the accounts of my government. They (Congress) are not going to come to power.”
He adds, “No-confidence is old culture of Congress. They express ‘no confidence’ very easily. Everybody knows about their ‘no confidence’ with each other within Congress. When you lose an election, you express no confidence on EVM. Evidences were sought when the surgical strike took place.”
On no entry of BJP-JJP MLAs in villages, Dushyant says, “During Congress government, Hooda was CM. Who was slapped in Panipat? Ink was thrown on Arvind Kejriwal.”
He adds, “You had just a slogan of ‘number one Haryana'. People brought you to third place in polls. BJP is our natural ally. Did we join hands with Congress ever? Congress wants power through no-confidence motion. Leave these sweet dreams of Mungeri Lal.”
JJP leader Dushyant Chautala says the no-confidence motion shows there is a sign of frustration among the Opposition. “You (the Opposition) have exposed yourself. First, they termed the farm laws as black laws. On the other hand, they admit they had made similar recommendations. Who gave land to Reliance after getting it acquired?” he says.
He adds, “Today they are bringing no-confidence motion, and tomorrow they will bring similar motion against the Congress president. They got protesting teachers killed through (police) bullets. It's our duty to get basic amenities provided to the agitator farmers at borders."
Speaking on the no-confidence motion, Haryana Lokhit Party MLA Gopal Kanda supports government and appreciates Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar.
Independent MLA from Meham, Balraj Kundu, begins, "As such, there is nothing in this no-confidence motion. The numbers make it clear, the government has absolute majority. I am not with the Congress party that moved this motion, but I am with farmers.
"Many supporters of these farm legislations ask what is black in the laws? I will support the government if any of the ministers can tell me even a single benefit for farmers in these legislations. Politics being played on farmers should be stopped. We should have mercy on them. He should be given justice. He should be given his legitimate right. The farmers issue should not be made a political issue. I suggest the CM become a mediator, and ensure that talks resume between farmers and the Union government. We all will stand with you," says Kundu.
"I will vote in favor of this no-confidence motion, but only in the farmers' interest," he concludes.
"You are moving a no-confidence motion? No-confidence motions don't change governments. You are misleading farmers. We are giving bicycles and cars to farmers. But you are telling farmer that if he rides the bicycle, he will fall... you are saying that if he drives a car, he will meet with an accident. We are making farmers entrepreneurs, but you don't want them to be self reliant. You want farmers to continue to be dependent on you," says Dr Kamal Gupta, BJP MLA from Hisar. "You will never be able to come back to power..."
Shakuntla Khatak, Congress MLA from Kalanaur, recites a poem on farmers, and says she supports the no-confidence motion. Khatak requests the Chief Minister to pay attention to women and children who are sitting at Delhi's borders.
Meanwhile, Dr Kamal Gupta, a BJP MLA from Hisar, mocks the Congress saying Bhupinder Hooda will shortly get to know whether his 30 MLAs are also on his side or not.
Harvinder Kalyan, BJP MLA from Gharaunda, rises to speak. "Why are these farm legislations called black, just because these came out from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's pen? If one constructs a house and some discrepancies in electricity and water pipelines are later detected, do you correct those discrepancies or raze the entire house?
"Farmers' issues are an extremely sensitive matter. The Congress should not play politics on such a sensitive subject. Being a farmer myself, I emphasize that these three farm legislations must be implemented and taken forward to ensure their welfare.
"An environment is being created to ensure no MLA from the ruling party can enter any village, but Opposition must not consider it their achievement. Society will never forgive the Opposition for creating such an environment. I vote against this no confidence motion and ask everybody else also to vote against it," he says.
Congress MLA B B Batra suggests the state should enact a legislation to ensure MSP for farmers.
Meanwhile, Independent MLA from Charkhi Dadri, Sombir Sangwan, who had withdrawn support from the government earlier, speaks: "I'll tell you what is the reason that BJP and JJP leaders are not allowed to enter villages. These three laws have absolutely nothing good for farmers. I would like to tell this House, we should pass a resolution in Vidhan Sabha and send it to the Union government. The entire country's farmers are participating this ongoing agitation. I request this House to enact some legislation, ensuring MSP.
"I have met MLAs from across party lines, they all know these laws are anti-farmer, but they are not coming out and speaking because of various reasons," he says.
Devender Babli, JJP MLA from Tohana, starts criticising his own party after the Speaker informs him that his name is not in the list of those who are allowed to speak on the no-confidence motion. The Speaker says Babli's name was not mentioned in the list of members that JJP had submitted.
BJP legislator Aseem Goel calls Congress legislators traitors. "I salute farmers, but you all are traitors," he tells the Opposition, which troops back into the Well of the House. Congress MLAs shout anti-government slogans as Speakers asks them to go back to their seats, threatens to name them. The Speaker also asks Aseem Goel to sit down.
Congress legislators object to Goel's remarks, call it unparliamentary, and step into the Well. The Speaker warns them that he will name them if they don't go back to their seats.
BJP legislators Abhe Singh Yadav and Aseem Goel both support the government, mock Congress for smelling power through the no-confidence motion.
"They don't allow us to enter villagers so that villagers do not hear the other version. Because if villagers heard the correct version, it is not us but Congress who will not be allowed entry in villages. This no-confidence motion is only an attempt of Congress to show to their high command that they were also doing something in the Vidhan Sabha," says Aseem Goel. "Jo log naare lagaate hain ke bharat tere tukde honge inshallah-inshallah.. Congress unke saath mil chuki hai..."
"It was BJP's election manifesto to implement the Swaminathan report.. but, we all know what's happening to it. On April 14, 2016, PM inaugurated a system connecting mandis with the Internet. What happened to that? It had no impact," says Congress MLA from Tosham, Kiran Choudhry.
"Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said 'mandiyon ki umar poori ho chuki'. She has said this to assure corporates. We all know when farmers will not be able to enter mandis, the mandi system and MSP will get abolished on its own. The real problem is MSP. Why couldn't a MSP law be enacted?
"These laws are entirely against farmers. Our Agriculture Minister J P Dalal said farmers are Chinese and Pakistanis... he said that China and Pakistan want to destabilise our country and they are behind all these protests. What does it mean?
Choudhry also raises the SYL canal issue. "Why isn't it an issue today. When I talk about it in the House, I am not allowed to."
Congress MLA from Tosham, Kiran Choudhry, speaks on the no-confidence motion. "All these three black laws are enacted only to favour corporates. Farmers are the worst affected with these laws. I condemn how the government is forcefully imposing them on farmers. Agriculture is a state subject... in Rajya Sabha, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar had said that agriculture is a state subject... why is Haryana's rights being encroached upon?
"It is being said that mandis will not shut down. Even we don't say that. But we understand that with these laws, these mandis will gradually die its own death... We saw how the mandi system ended in Bihar. It forced farmers to work as labourers," he added.
The Speaker has extended the discussion on the no-confidence motion by an additional hour.
Independent MLA from Pundri, Randhir Singh Gollen, begins speaking in the Haryana Assembly. "A farmer who feeds the entire country is in bad shape today. I think that almost all farmers of Haryana are in debt, their land is mortgaged in banks. But, the real farmer is who works in the fields. The environment that is prevailing for over 100 days in Haryana is not good. We have 90 MLAs in Haryana Vidhan Sabha, of which 60-70 are associated with farming/agriculture...," he says.
Gollen claims the Congress is instigating farmers to hold protests. "60 persons protested outside my office yesterday and asked me to vote against the government. Why should I? 41,000 voters have elected me. They will decide what I should do, not the 60 Congressmen who protested outside my office... Congress is worried only about how to get back into power. I believe our government has been doing the best for farmers' welfare.
"The no confidence motion moved by the Congress has nothing to do with farmers. It will have no impact on the government. I support the government, and vote against this motion," he says.
Agriculture Minister J P Dalal rises to speak on the no-confidence motion against the Khattar government. "It is right that farmers' conditions across the country is not that good. But, I would like to compare figures of farmers' income during Congress and our tenures. If farmers' condition is such today, it is only due to Congress that had ruled for a majority period. They are misleading people that these are black laws. They said mandis will shut down, they said MSP will be abolished, but they have not been able to quote even one such incident. They are misleading the naive farmers...
"Farmers are with us. We have their blessings. I am a farmer's son. We stand committed to double farmers' incomes. We can't make Congress happy, but we shall surely make farmers happy," he adds.
Congress MLA from Gohana, Jagbir Malik, speaks. "Everybody should vote listening to their conscience... nobody should vote under pressure of the Whips.
"It has been over 100 days since this agitation began. BJP did everything, held tractor rallies, tried to hold meetings in villages, but people didn't listen to you. You called them (farmers) conspirators. Agriculture Minister J P Dalal had said that farmers had to die. You must apologise to all farmers... you have been saying that dying by suicide has become a fashion for farmers," he said.
"There are around 16 lakh farmer families in Haryana. 86% are marginal farmers (below 2 acres of land). Government records show farmers' monthly income is Rs 6,000-9,000. These people who are sitting in cities and have opened huge showrooms, is all because of farmers. The day farmers' income ends, these showrooms will collapse. BJP, in its manifesto, had promised to double farmers' income. It was never done," he adds.
Nayan Pal Rawat, an Independent MLA from Prithla, speaks next. He calls Bhupinder Singh Hooda a "Nakli mukhyamantri" (fake CM) and CM Manohar Lal Khattar an "asli mukhyamantri" (real CM), to which Congress MLAs fume.
"Their own party MLA in Punjab, Navjot Singh Sindhu says Punjab should follow Haryana's agriculture policies.. and here in Haryana, they are objecting," Rawat says.
Ishwar Singh, JJP MLA from Guhla, rises to speak. "Everybody is talking about farmers, but nobody is talking about poor labourers. We are treated as untouchables. In Mirchpur, 19 houses were burnt. A man and his daughter were burnt alive. For 11 days, the Chief Minister didn't visit the area," he says.
"We are the real farmers. It was an unprecedented paddy procurement during this government. Not a single farmer had to spend a night in mandis. It went off so smoothly. I condemn the manner in which you are claiming yourself to be saviors of farmers," Singh tells the Opposition. He quotes several schemes launched by the BJP-JJP government, and says the no-confidence motion is "absolutely wrong".
Kanwar Pal, voting against the no-confidence motion, says, "Yesterday, Bhupinder Hooda said he condemns the Red Fort incident, but then you sent your lawyers to defend those accused. You want to create lawlessness.. you are supporting those who are disrupting law and order.
"It is your thought process that you want to create a situation of confrontation. If we had an intention of confrontation, there would have been lathi charge. But we didn't do it," he adds.
"I request you to point out one discrepancy in either of the three farm legislations," he says to the Opposition.
BJP Jagadhari MLA Kanwar Pal, speaking on the floor of the House, says, "Don't you think that you are also responsible for farmers' deaths? When you were seeing elderly farmers who kept on dying one after another, why didn't you request them to get back to their homes? You did not because your aim was different.
"You say lathi charge... get proof. Where is the medical examination certificate? Just get one such certificate... Speeches won't feed farmers, it is our actions for them that will show who is in favour," Pal says. He also quotes crop procurement figures, comparing the Congress and BJP tenures.
Congress MLA from Beri, Raghuvir Singh Kadiyan says, "Naina Chautala (JJP MLA from Badhra) had been saying that she will die, but never support the BJP. I would request her to lead like Jhansi ki Rani, and boycott this government and support this no confidence vote. Dhushyant Chautala, who is not present here currently, should also listen to his conscience, close his eyes, and if he is able to see Chaudhary Devi Lal's picture, he must withdraw support. If Dushyant can see the stains of blood of 250 farmers who have died, he should withdraw support today itself."
Hooda concludes his speech by telling Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala that he is not talking about the last five years, but conditions in the last year. "You have majority, you will raise your hands and prove it. But, you show me if you can dare to go to your own constituencies... I would urge the Speaker to decide the motion by way of secret voting, not through Whips," he says.
On the Haryana quota law, Hooda says, "The government passed a 75% reservation Bill for Haryana youth in the private sector. JJP's manifesto never mentioned that it will only be in the private sector. I don't protest it in principle, but JJP should not have misled the people.
"You changed domicile rules from 15 to 5 years. Then, you say that it will not be applicable on reserved category jobs in the government sector. How will this happen? Now, government says it will seek industry body suggestions. When you have already made a law, what will the suggestions do?" asks Hooda. He quotes an article from The Indian Express on industry reactions to the law.
Congress' Bhupinder Singh Hooda targets government over unemployment in Haryana. "Unemployment is the highest in Haryana. In 2015, you promised 4 lakh jobs and investments over Rs 1 lakh crore... How much has come in? Investment of Rs 24,000 crore and 32,030 jobs," says Hooda. "I would advise the government to take its fake promises with it, cause they would need it in the next polls too."
"I don't want to talk about the farm legislations because it will be said that it is a central subject. But I am pained to see farmers sitting on roads at Delhi's borders. These are farmers from everywhere, all states. Nobody blocked traffic, yet government used force on them, water canons, lathi charge, iron rods were used to hit farmers. The goverment must remember that even iron rods can't break a farmer's head," Hooda says.
Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda takes on the government regarding the farmers' protests. He says the farmers who have died at Delhi's borders should be given the status of martyrs.
"JJP's manifesto mentioned that 10 per cent bonus shall be given on crop procurement. Neither a law was framed nor was a bonus given. The BJP's manifesto ensured double income for farmers and a MSP guarantee... With taxes being imposed on pesticides and fertilizers, expenditure incurred by farmers increasing manifold, and diesel prices increasing, how will you double farmers' income?" Hooda asks.
Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda rises to speak in the House. "We move a motion against Shri Manohar Lal Khattar, Chief Minister. This government is not a government of majority. It didn't get majority in 2019. Rather, it got the support of another party. The party, JJP, that wanted to throw the BJP out of power, is now sitting with the government.
"This government has completely lost the people's faith. These leaders can't get into their own villages. They just keep flying around in helicopters that can't land. The Chief Minister couldn't even go to Panipat to unfurl the national flag on January 26. He had to fly to Panchkula. This is the condition of this government today," says Hooda.
The Haryana Vidhan Sabha on Wednesday took up for discussion a no-confidence motion moved against the M L Khattar government. Speaker Gian Chand said two hours would be allotted for the discussion.