Haryana minister Kavita Jain broke into tears in the state Assembly here today, following a verbal duel with Congress leader Geeta Bhukkal during which the opposition member made some "personal" remarks against her, prompting the House to pass a motion to condemn them.
On the occasion of International Women's Day, when women members cutting across party lines were being encouraged to put across their views, a verbal duel between the two women MLAs from the ruling BJP and the Congress took an unexpected turn after which state Women and Child Development Minister Jain broke into tears.
It all started when Bhukkal, participating in the general discussion on the budget estimates for 2017-18, said it was regrettable that the BJP government in Haryana was not holding any state-level programme today to celebrate International Women's Day.
Despite Jain informing the House earlier that a state-level programme will be held at Sonipat on March 15 to honour women from different fields and today's function had to be postponed in view of the Assembly session, Bhukkal said by doing so, the significance of the day was lost.
"I condemn the decision of the state government not to celebrate International Women's Day today. The minister (Jain) is giving a wrong statement in the House. She does not look into her files, it is her husband (BJP leader) Rajiv Jain who does that," Bhukkal, who was a minister in the previous Bhupinder Singh Hooda government in the state, said.
Bhukkal's comments infuriated Jain. Joined by other BJP members, including women legislators, she asked the Congress member to apologise and requested Deputy Speaker Santosh Yadav, who was in the Chair, to move her out of the House if she did not tender an apology.
As a heated exchange ensued between BJP and Congress members, state Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ram Bilas Sharma tried to intervene. Reminding Bhukkal that she was a senior member of the House, he said she should apologise for the remarks made against Jain.
Sharma said he had proposed today that women members be given an opportunity to speak for as long as they want, but was saddened by the behaviour of the opposition member.
Bhukkal said she would give a clarification, but remained adamant that she will not apologise.
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Meanwhile, the BJP members started raising 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' slogans and alleged that Bhukkal's comments were an "insult to womanhood".
Jain, who did not resume her seat, pointing towards Bhukkal said, "She has proved that a woman is a woman's biggest enemy."
Deputy Speaker Yadav, also a woman and who was in the Chair for most part of the day, said that to say Jain's husband handled her work was not correct and Bhukkal's comments were not in good taste.
"She is insulting a woman," Jain later said and broke into tears, prompting Kalka MLA Latika Sharma and other woman BJP legislators to rush towards her to console her.
Seeing Jain cry, Ram Bilas Sharma moved the motion to condemn Bhukkal's remarks, which was passed by the House.
Soon afterwards, the Deputy Speaker adjourned the House till tomorrow.
Later, talking to reporters, Bhukkal said, "The BJP government does not want that on International Women's Day, women MLAs from the opposition raise their points.
"I only said that during the Congress' time, International Women's Day was celebrated on March 8 and the current government has decided to postpone it. Even if it falls on a day when the Assembly is in session, it does not mean you do not observe the day."
When asked why did she make the personal comment, the Congress legislator said, "Kavita Jain is a senior minister. She too said a woman is a woman's enemy. Does it behove of her to say that? It was not my intention that she should cry. She could have put across her point of view on my comment and should not have cried.
