The Haryana Assembly witnessed a heated exchange between BJP and the Congress during a discussion on the state’s law and order situation. (File Photo)The Haryana Assembly on Tuesday witnessed a heated exchange between the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress during a discussion on the state’s law and order situation. The BJP strongly refuted allegations of a rising crime graph, while Congress legislators, led by former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, staged a walkout in protest while strongly objecting to a “poetic and sarcastic comment” of the Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini.In their Adjournment Motion, Congress members alleged that “an atmosphere of insecurity has emerged due to the surge in criminal incidents and the breakdown of law and order.” They added, “Murders of contractors in broad daylight and threats to ordinary citizens and public representatives have become routine.”Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mahipal Dhanda countered these claims, asserting that “heinous crimes such as murder have declined during the BJP’s ten-year tenure from 2014 to 2025, compared to the Congress rule from 2005 to 2014.”Saini later responded directly to Hooda, recalling incidents of crimes against women during the Congress administration. However, the Congress legislators, led by Bhupinder Singh Hooda, strongly objected and rose to stage a walkout after the CM delivered a “poetic and sarcastic remark” targeting those who, in his view, were lecturing the government on morality. Hooda objected to the remark, saying: “I have been an MP four times and an MLA six times. I have never seen anything like this. Ye koi tarika hai” (“This is not the way”).Speaker Harvinder Kalyan urged the Opposition to remain seated and listen to the reply, saying, “The response should be heard while sitting in the House.” Nevertheless, the Congress MLAs proceeded with their walkout.Earlier in his reply, the Chief Minister had cited the Haryana Police’s swift action in the rape and murder of a minor girl in Yamunanagar district in September 2024. He noted that “the accused was arrested within 24 hours, and within eight months, the court awarded him the death penalty.”The confrontation escalated when Saini, while defending his government’s record, the CM challenged Hooda and Congress MLAs to present a single example from their 2004–2014 tenure where a rapist was sentenced to death with such urgency and efficiency. He remarked: “Hooda sahab, you were Chief Minister of this state for ten years. Yaadi ek bhi balatkari ko unke samay me fansi di gayi ho to, khade hokar batayen (If even a single rapist was given the death penalty during your tenure, then stand up and say so).”“Sadan ki kuch to garima rakho” (“Have some respect for the dignity of the House”), said Hooda and further stated, “We make the policies; it’s the people sitting here (officers) who run the government.”Story continues below this adResponding to Hooda’s remarks, Saini acknowledged the shared administrative framework but emphasised, “Today, the country is governed by Narendra Modi’s leadership, which has transformed the nation.”Saini reaffirmed that the state government is pursuing a zero-tolerance policy towards crime. He had announced this policy following the inaugural cabinet meeting on October 18, 2024. “At that time, as the Chief Minister, I had issued a clear warning to criminals: either mend your ways or the government will compel you to do so. No one regardless of social standing or political influence will be spared if they break the law. In Haryana, it is the rule of law that will prevail, not the status of criminals,” said the CM.Chief Minister Saini, however, said crime has declined substantially from 2014 to 2024.Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd