Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Thursday, 27 August fired back at the Opposition in the state legislative Assembly, challenging those questioning the law and order situation in Haryana to first examine the crime figures and incidents that occurred during their own tenures. The sharp exchange unfolded on the first day of the Assembly session in Chandigarh.

The Calling Attention Motion

The confrontation was triggered by a calling attention motion on Haryana's law and order situation, moved by Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) members Aditya Devi Lal and Arjun Chautala. CM Saini used his reply to go on the offensive, accusing the Opposition of exploiting victims' suffering for political gain.

'Even before wiping a victim's tears, it starts looking for a political opportunity. They are less concerned about the pain caused by crime and more eager to malign the government,' Saini said, addressing the House.

Saini's Counter-Offensive on Congress Rule

The Chief Minister argued that while law and order is a legitimate subject for debate, the discussion must be grounded in facts rather than 'political convenience or misleading propaganda.' He reminded the House of what he described as the Opposition's own record — citing alleged 'crime, corruption, caste violence, recruitment scams and administrative failures' during their time in power.

Notably, Saini took direct aim at Opposition members who arrived in the Assembly dressed in black as a mark of protest. 'The people of Haryana are not looking at their black clothes, rather they are watching their dark deeds,' he claimed.

1984 Riots Invoked in Assembly

In a sharp escalation, CM Saini invoked the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, targeting the Indian National Congress (Congress) directly. He alleged that the Congress has never apologised for the violence, and that a figure associated with that period was being held up as a 'role model' within the party — a characterisation he called 'unfortunate' and tantamount to 'rubbing salt into the old wounds of the victims.'

He went further, calling on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Hooda to publicly display a photograph of the individual the Congress describes as its 'role model,' both inside and outside their homes. The Congress did not immediately respond to the remarks on the floor.

BJP vs Congress: The Broader Charge Sheet

Accusing the Congress of viewing everything 'through dark glasses,' Saini alleged that its leaders 'only know how to level allegations and then walk out of the House' — a reference to what he described as their unwillingness to hear the government's rebuttal. He said this pattern reflected a lack of 'courage to hear the truth.'

Saini also addressed younger voters directly, urging them to independently research the Congress's tenure in Haryana and not be misled by what he characterised as deliberate misinformation. He alleged that 'during Congress rule there was no democracy but a rule-tantra under which people were forced to flee, leaving behind their homes, belongings and lifelong savings.'

What Comes Next

The heated exchanges on the first day signal that the Haryana Assembly session will be contentious, with law and order, historical accountability, and governance record likely to dominate proceedings. The Opposition's response — and whether it engages with the government's counter-claims — will shape the tenor of the session ahead.