Congress faces embarrassment in Haryana Assembly

By Our Special Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, JUNE 12. The Congress had to face some uncomfortable moments in the Haryana Assembly today as it could not even muster 18 members needed to move a no-confidence motion against the Om Prakash Chautala regime. Interestingly, the notice to move the motion was signed by 20 MLAs.

The Speaker, Mr. Satbir Singh Kadian, informed the House soon after it re-assembled after lunch that the Congress had given a notice of no-confidence against the Government. He asked the 20 MLAs who had signed the notice to stand in its support but even with the support extended by the Republican Party of India MLA, Mr. Karan Singh Dalal, and the Nationalist Congress MLA, Mr. Jagjit Sangwan, the head count remained at 17, which was one short of the requisite 18.

Even as the Speaker ruled that leave to move the motion could not be granted for lack of requisite numbers, the Congress MLA, Mr. Jai Prakash, entered the House raising his hand in support of the motion. However, the Speaker turned down the Congress plea for a re-count.

The treasury benches had the last laugh at the obvious loss of face by the Congress. The Chief Minister, Mr. Om Prakash Chautala, in a satiric tone asserted that the Congress had failed to even perform its democratic role as a credible and serious opposition.It was obvious that the move of the Congress had floundered because of inherent groupism and lack of sincerity.

However, the leader of Opposition, Mr. Bhajan Lal, and president of the Haryana unit of the Congress, Mr. Bhupinder Singh Hooda, who represents the Kiloi constituency, later told mediapersons that the ruling party had acted in a `partisan' manner by not allowing recount and not taking cognisance that Mr. Jai Prakash had entered the House and raised his hand in support of the motion.

They said the Congress had decided to bring the no-confidence motion after their questions, calling attention motions, adjournment motions and short notice motions were not taken up for consideration. Mr. Bhajan Lal also demanded that the sitting of the House be extended by a day but this was turned down by the Speaker.

The Congress members had earlier in the day staged a walk-out in protest against the non-consideration of their questions.

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