Chandigarh: The Haryana Assembly’s winter session will begin here on Wednesday during which the opposition Congress is preparing to corner the the new BJP government on the issue of shortage of di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) fertilizer affecting farmers.

State’s Agriculture Minister Shyam Singh Rana, however, assured farmers that the supply of DAP in the state remains adequate and uninterrupted.

After a meeting of the Business Advisory Committee of the Assembly, Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini told reporters on Monday that it has been decided that the session will be held on November 13, 14 and 18 with three holidays in between.

“Some bills will also be brought during the session,” Saini said.

This will include the one for ensuring job security for contractual employees until the age of superannuation, a move which will benefit about 1.20 lakh such employees, Haryana Minister Krishan Kumar Bedi said.

Two months before the Assembly polls, the Haryana Cabinet had given its approval to bring an ordinance in this regard and now the Haryana Contractual Employees (Security of Service) Bill, 2024 will be brought in the winter session.

The session will begin with the Governor’s Address followed by a discussion in the House on the motion of thanks and the chief minister will reply on November 14.

The opposition Congress, still reeling from the third consecutive defeat in assembly polls, is yet to decide its legislature party leader.

Congress leader and former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Monday said that the high command will soon decide on the Leader of the Opposition.

He said party leaders are presently busy in the Maharashtra and Jharkhand elections.

Congress leader Geeta Bhukkal also indicated that the decision is likely to be taken by the party’s high command after the Maharashtra and Jharkhand polls.

She said the opposition will raise issues like the shortage of di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) that is affecting farmers.

The Haryana Congress Legislature Party (CLP), which had held its first meeting here on October 18 after the Assembly poll results announced on October 8, had passed a resolution authorising the party high command to appoint its next leader in the house.

Hooda was the Leader of the Opposition in the previous House and after the string of losses, a section of leaders wants the younger generation to take over.

Asked about the delay by Congress in naming the Leader of Opposition, Chief Minister Saini quipped, “This is their internal matter.” Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mahipal Dhanda said the opposition has no specific agenda for the session beginning on Wednesday and is instead embroiled in internal conflicts.

“They have not even been able to finalise who will be Leader of the Opposition,” he added.

“It is essential to have a Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly to facilitate meaningful discussions.

“People not only look to the government but also to the opposition leaders to raise the concerns of their respective areas. Without a Leader of the Opposition, what can the public expect from them?” quipped Dhanda.

Bedi also took a dig at the Congress, saying, “We have never seen such a helpless, issue-less opposition in our life”.

Bhukkal, meanwhile, said Congress will be raising issues related to farmers, health, education, unemployment, inflation and drugs during the Haryana Assembly session.

“Farmers are facing a DAP shortage and they have to stand in queues, but the government is claiming there is no shortage,” the Congress leader said.

“We will also raise the issue of defacement of our cities where one finds posters, hoardings and banners put up on the walls. Besides, there are heaps of garbage dumped here and there,” she alleged.

Bhupinder Singh Hooda said the government is continuously claiming that there is no shortage of fertilizers, “but the truth is that till now the farmers have not been able to get even half the fertilizer as compared to the demand”.

However, State’s Agriculture Minister Shyam Singh Rana assured the farmers that the supply of DAP in the state remains adequate and uninterrupted.

 

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