The Congress boycotted a special session of the Haryana Assembly in Chandigarh on Monday, alleging that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party was attempting to use the House to push a political agenda under the guise of a resolution.
Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda said the Congress Legislature Party had unanimously decided to skip the daylong session. He argued that the issue the BJP intended to raise—linked to condemning opposition parties over the defeat of a Constitution amendment bill in the Lok Sabha—did not fall within the Assembly’s jurisdiction. Hooda also noted that no copy of the resolution had been shared with Congress MLAs, adding that they would mark their absence without claiming allowances such as TA or DA.
Responding sharply, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini criticised the Congress for its absence, calling it reflective of an ‘anti-women’ mindset. He said that during the Business Advisory Committee meeting earlier in the day, Hooda had raised concerns about whether the government planned to bring a politically motivated resolution. According to Saini, it was clarified that the resolution was official in nature and focused on women’s empowerment, rather than party politics.
Despite the boycott, some Congress MLAs—Shaily Chaudhary, Renu Bala and Jarnail Singh—who were recently suspended for alleged cross-voting in last month’s Rajya Sabha elections, briefly appeared during the proceedings. Jarnail Singh even spoke in support of the resolution moved by the chief minister.
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The controversy stems from the recent defeat in the Lok Sabha of a Constitution amendment bill proposing 33 per cent reservation for women in legislative bodies from 2029, along with an increase in the number of seats in Parliament. Opposition parties, including Congress, had opposed the bill, alleging that the Centre intended to carry out delimitation before conducting a caste census.
Outside the Assembly, Congress leaders staged a mock session to protest against the BJP government, accusing it of misusing the legislative platform. Hooda said the Assembly should focus on public issues rather than serving as a forum for political messaging, adding that public funds should not be spent on what he termed partisan exercises.
He further questioned the BJP’s commitment to women’s reservation, pointing out that although a similar bill was passed in 2023, it was not formally notified for an extended period. “This delay raises doubts about the government’s intent to actually implement reservation for women,” Hooda said.
Defending the resolution, Saini said true development cannot be achieved without ensuring equal rights and opportunities for women. He highlighted initiatives undertaken by the central government led by Narendra Modi, and expressed regret that opposition parties did not unite in support of the bill.
Calling the resolution a statement of commitment to women’s dignity and rights, Saini said the Congress should have participated in the debate, even if only to present its dissent. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mahipal Dhanda also supported the move, suggesting that a censure motion be passed against the Congress for skipping the session. Minister Krishan Kumar Bedi criticised the opposition, claiming it was out of touch with public sentiment on women’s empowerment.
Meanwhile, Jarnail Singh reiterated his support for the resolution, stating that empowering women is a collective responsibility and that the Congress should reconsider its stance and engage constructively in such discussions.
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