Chandigarh :
BJP’s firebrand Health Minister Anil Vij was in the firing line of the Opposition Congress and INLD for “misleading” the Haryana Assembly during a calling attention motion on the second day of the ongoing monsoon session.

The demand for apology from the minister and privilege motion against him were raised by the Congress and INLD legislators after Vij had replied to the motion moved by Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Kiran Choudhry and others. The Opposition alleged the minister had given a “factually incorrect” answer warranting an apology or privilege motion against him.

In her motion, Choudhry had alleged that thousands of girl students of ANM/GNM diploma courses were moving from pillar to post as their examinations were not being conducted since 2014.

Vij took strong exception to Choudhry’s allegations claiming that during the Congress’ 10-year regime, a majority of 158 nursing colleges were given recognition by adopting “corrupt means” and flouting rules. He alleged that during its tenure, the Congress had constituted the Haryana Nurses Registration Council which adopted the “outdated” Punjab Nurses Registration Act, 1932.

This evoked strong reaction from Congress members, including Choudhry, Kuldeep Sharma and Geeta Bhukkal, who wanted to know what action had been taken against the persons who facilitated the recognition of nursing colleges through “corrupt means”.

Amid charges and counter-charges between Vij and Congress members, Sharma demanded a privilege motion against the minister for “telling a lie” in the House about “adopting corrupt means and flouting rules”.

Leader of Opposition Abhay Chautala also demanded action against the persons who were instrumental in getting recognition for the nursing colleges by flouting norms. Later, Vij entered into a verbal duel with Chautala with both using unparliamentary language at each other.

Earlier, Vij had claimed that examinations were being held regularly since November 2014. As many as 7,078 students will be appearing for the examination of these diploma courses for academic session 2015-16 (supplementary) and 2016-17 (main) in October 2018. The results will be declared by December.

Besides, Vij claimed that the Khattar government had enacted the Haryana Nurses and Nurses Mid Wives Act 2017 which had replaced the then Haryana Nurses Registration Council.

Privilege motion against Vij sought

Amid charges and counter-charges between Anil Vij and Congress members, Kuldeep Sharma demanded a privilege motion against the minister for “telling a lie” in the House about “adopting corrupt means and flouting rules”.

Two Bills passed 

• The Haryana Vidhan Sabha passed two Bills on Monday. These included YMCA University of Science and Technology, Faridabad (Amendment) Bill, 2018 and the Haryana Vishwakarma Skill University (Amendment) Bill, 2018. 
• However, the Haryana Pond and Waste Water Management Authority Bill, 2018, was deferred to give more time to members to prepare for discussion over the Bill. 
• The YMCA Bills has been passed to change the name of YMCA University to JC Bose University of Science and Technology, YMCA, Faridabad. 
• Similarly, the Haryana Vishwakarma Skill University (Amendment) Bill, 2018 has been passed to change the name of the university to Shri Vishwakarma Skill University, Haryana.