A Congress delegation led by former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda met Haryana Governor Prof Ashim Kumar Ghosh to complain about the alleged manhandling of Hooda and party MLAs during a protest on August 27.
The delegation met the Governor after a meeting of the Congress Legislative Party. The meeting came days after Congress MLAs took part in a peaceful march toward the Legislative Assembly building, raising slogans and carrying placards.
What Happened on August 27
The Congress MLAs had scheduled a programme to register their protest on several issues. These included unemployment, inflation, law and order, theft of temple donations at Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, paper leaks, and the caste-based insult directed at Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge.
According to the original report, the MLAs marched peacefully toward the Legislative Assembly building on August 27. The party memorandum submitted to the Governor said, "The presence of a massive Haryana Police contingent at this entry point was..." — the statement points to a heavy police presence at the location where the alleged manhandling took place.
Congress Delegation's Complaint to the Governor
The delegation's main complaint centers on the alleged manhandling of Hooda and other party MLAs during the August 27 protest. The party has submitted a memorandum to the Governor detailing the incident and seeking action.
The meeting with the Governor came after the Congress Legislative Party held its own discussions on the matter. The delegation chose to take the issue directly to the Governor's office rather than only raising it in the assembly.
Our Take: Why This Meeting Matters
To put it plainly, this is a serious charge. When elected MLAs say they were manhandled by police during a peaceful protest, it raises questions about how dissent is handled in the state.
The Congress delegation has done the right thing by taking the complaint to the Governor in writing. A memorandum creates a formal record. Now the Governor's office must respond — either by ordering an inquiry or by clarifying what exactly happened on August 27.
What matters most here is the facts. The MLAs say they were peaceful. The police presence was heavy, according to the party's memorandum. Someone needs to establish what actually occurred. The public deserves a clear answer on whether the protest stayed peaceful and whether the police response was proportionate.
This is not just about one party or one incident. It is about whether elected representatives can protest without fear. The Governor now has the responsibility to look into the complaint and give a fair response.