Chief Minister rebuts vote rigging allegations: "Congress has a history of deception
Opposition’s criticism of ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ is unfortunate: CM
Punjab Newsline, Chandigarh-
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini said that four sittings were held during the Monsoon Session of the Vidhan Sabha, which took place from August 22 to 27. During the session, a resolution was unanimously passed to commemorate the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Shri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, along with six bills that were also passed unanimously.
The Chief Minister was addressing the media persons in Chandigarh on Wednesday following the conclusion of the Monsoon Session of the Haryana Vidhan Sabha here today.
Questions over Congress’s historical track record
The Chief Minister said that the Congress party is raising a hue and cry over alleged 'fake voting', despite having a long history of fraud, corruption, and undermining democratic values. He cited the internal Congress elections of 1946 as an example, claiming that Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel received 14 votes while Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru secured only one, yet Nehru was declared the winner. “That was the real booth capturing,” he remarked.
The Chief Minister said that the issue of bogus voting involving Sukhbir Kataria was widely discussed during the 2009 Assembly elections. He said that allegations were made against Kataria for tampering with the voter list, using fake voter ID cards, and using forged documents. Two new FIRs were registered in connection with the case in 2013.
The Chief Minister said that the Congress party is the same organization that once suppressed the constitutional rights of the people by imposing Emergency and set a precedent for electoral malpractice. He added that the people of Haryana are well aware that during Congress rule, booth capturing, voter intimidation, and vote-buying through the distribution of liquor and money were common occurrences.
Poor sex ratio during Congress rule
The Chief Minister said it is unfortunate that the opposition is questioning the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao programme. He emphasized that the initiative was launched in response to the alarming decline in the gender ratio during the Congress government. In 2014, when Congress left power, the sex ratio in the state had dropped to 871, and Haryana was burdened with the stigma of female foeticide.
The Chief Minister said that our government has worked diligently to erase this stigma. He highlighted that the Prime Minister Sh Narendra Modi launched the nationwide Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao program from Panipat on January 22, 2015. As a result of this initiative, the sex ratio in the state has improved to 910 at present.
Answering a question, the Chief Minister said that while the opposition opposes every decision of the government, the entire world is appreciating the leadership and initiatives of Prime Minister Sh Narendra Modi. On the question of providing jobs to families affected by the 1984 riots, the Chief Minister said that this decision is dedicated to the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Shri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji. He emphasized that it is not a political move, but one that aligns with the sentiments and teachings of the Gurus.
The Chief Minister accused the opposition of misleading the House on the issues of collector rates and liquor contracts. Regarding the opposition’s exit during the discussion on law and order, he expressed regret, saying it was unfortunate. He said that the House heard all their points and even accepted the adjournment motion, but when the government responded, the opposition protested and walked out. The Chief Minister added that the entire state can see that the Congress has no issues to raise.
When asked about the cyclothon event, he said it was an initiative by the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly to promote environmental protection, with all MLAs invited to participate. Responding to the opposition calling the event as a "drama," he remarked that they would have been better off staying silent on the issue.