Bhupinder Singh Hooda Demands Answers in Haryana Assembly Amid Aravalli Range Protection Controversy
Chandigarh, December 22, 2025: In a stormy winter session of the Haryana Legislative Assembly, former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, the current Leader of the Opposition (LoP) from the Congress party, ignited a heated debate over the protection of the Aravalli range, a critical ecosystem in the National Capital Region. The controversy has taken center stage in the Assembly, reflecting a broader clash of ideologies between the Congress-led opposition and the BJP government.
The Assembly session, which began on December 18, 2025, witnessed Congress plan a no-confidence motion against the BJP government led by Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini. The opposition party raised various topics, including the alleged rigging of the 2024 Haryana Assembly polls, which saw a significant swing in favor of the BJP. Hooda's team used adjournment motions, calling attention notices, and short-duration discussions to push for answers on the government's handling of critical issues like governance, law and order, and environmental protection.
On December 20, 2025, Hooda led an opposition walkout after accusing the government of failing to provide satisfactory answers on state issues. The Aravalli range protection, a key concern for the opposition, was a major part of the broader agenda. Hooda's demands for clarity on the government's stance on the environment have been fueled by rising pollution, waterlogging, and ecological imbalance in the region.
The BJP government, led by Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, has dismissed the no-confidence motion as lacking seriousness. Saini claimed that the opposition acknowledges controlled inflation while deflecting to national and global issues instead of Haryana's problems. Despite the absence of a direct response on Aravalli, the government accused the opposition of avoiding queries. The media has observed that Congress is using the session to corner the BJP on multiple fronts, including the Aravalli controversy.
The Aravalli range, stretching across Haryana and Rajasthan, is critical for controlling pollution, waterlogging, and ecological balance in the National Capital Region. The controversy signals heightened political tension over environmental protection and may exacerbate public health risks and land use conflicts. Politically, it pressures the BJP government amid no-confidence threats, potentially affecting governance on interconnected issues like farmers' MSP struggles, drug abuse, education, healthcare, and job preferences for locals vs. outsiders.
Economically, unresolved Aravalli debates may deter industries, worsen fiscal health, and impact vulnerable groups. The controversy has already led to disruptions in the Assembly, with a separate uproar over the 'Vande Mataram' debate on December 19. Hooda's repeated attacks on the BJP for issues like unemployment, law and order, and economic decline have further fueled the tension.
The Congress party's strategy in the winter session reflects a broader post-2024 Haryana Assembly elections narrative. The opposition claims that the BJP retained power through "stealing votes" via illegal inducements, fake voter entries (estimated at approximately 25 lakh), and Election Commission collusion. Hooda's team has linked Aravalli protection to environmental issues like pollution, waterlogging compensation, and a "paddy scam," amid ongoing protests since mid-November 2025 over alleged electoral fraud.
The controversy over the Aravalli range protection raises critical questions about the government's commitment to environmental protection and governance. As the Assembly session continues, Hooda's demands for answers will likely remain a central point of contention between the Congress-led opposition and the BJP government. The implications of this controversy will be closely watched by residents, politicians, and industries in Haryana, with far-reaching consequences for the state's governance, economy, and public health.
📰 Source: India Today - Education
