Haryana ex-MLA shot dead: Bhupinder Hooda, Anil Vij face-off over law and order situation

Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij faced off in the state assembly on Monday, a day after former MLA Nafe Singh Rathee was shot dead by assailants. A discussion on the law and order situation in the state turned into a heated debate on under whose government, criminals ran amock.

Vij began his speech by making comparisons between the Congress (2005 to 2014) and BJP governments' performance in cracking down on crime in the state

"Dacoity, robbery rape, and assault against women went up substantially from 2008 to 2014. We all know who was responsible for turning this peace-loving Haryana into a crime-infested state."

Hooda then responded by seeking a discussion on the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report for 2014 and 2023.

"Then we should discuss the NCRCB data for 2014 and 2023. Give us time, we shall discuss."

To which Vij responded, "We all know these figures. But the mayhem you unleashed, we are trying to tame it, and we have been successfull."

Hooda, unhappy with the reply, insisted on having a debate on the crime records of the BJP and the Congress.

"Is this a reply? I am asking why don't we discuss the NCRCB data of 2014 and 2023."

Meanwhile, Hooda insisted on a CBI probe into the death of Rathee. “We demand that a CBI inquiry has to be there; it should be monitored by a sitting Judge… I am not demanding as Leader of the Opposition but as a resident of this state."

Vij responded by saying, “I had already said that it is an unfortunate and sad incident. Here, the issue is being raised that Rathee had sought security but wasn’t given. It is correct that Rathee had sought security. He had written a letter to SP, Jhajjar. It was registered and it was investigated. A man was found stationed in Calcutta who was threatening Rathee that man was arrested and action was taken against him."