By News Desk | CHANDIGARH | Monday, February 23, 2026
CHANDIGARH — The Haryana Legislative Assembly on Monday witnessed a major showdown as a privilege motion was moved against a YouTube news channel, ‘Action India Haryana,’ for allegedly tarnishing the image of the House and the Leader of the House, Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini. Speaker Harvinder Kalyan, with the consensus of the Assembly, has officially referred the matter to the Privilege Committee for a detailed investigation.
Allegations of Malicious Content and Doctored Videos
The motion was formally tabled by MLA Pramod Vij under the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business of the Haryana Legislative Assembly. Vij launched a stinging attack on the channel’s management, including its Managing Director, editor, and correspondent, accusing them of a deliberate attempt to degrade the dignity of the legislature.
According to the complaint, the channel circulated a video that was “maliciously edited” with the intent to mislead the public. Vij pointed out that the footage contained photographs from months ago that had no connection to the current Assembly proceedings or the premises. “The conduct of these individuals is a gross and unjust strike on the prestige of the Chief Minister and this August House,” Vij stated, demanding immediate legislative intervention against the “shameful conduct” displayed in the broadcast.
Speaker’s Observation on Security and ‘Sergeant-at-Arms’
The controversy was partly fueled by the channel’s questioning of the deployment of specific security personnel within the Assembly. Addressing these concerns, Speaker Harvinder Kalyan provided a detailed observation regarding the security overhaul at the Vidhan Bhavan.
The Speaker clarified that the security measures are based on recommendations from the Joint Director of Security, Lok Sabha Secretariat, and aimed at ensuring the safety of members, former members, and visitors. A key part of this strategy is the re-appointment of the ‘Sergeant-at-Arms,’ a practice that was discontinued in 2020 but is legally provisioned under the Punjab Legislative Assembly (Offices) Act, 1939—an act adopted by Haryana.
Strengthening Internal Discipline
Speaker Kalyan emphasized that maintaining internal discipline is as critical as external security. He noted that:
The Sergeant-at-Arms has been tasked with managing order inside the House, following the established traditions that existed until 2019.
This allow Marshals to focus more effectively on streamlining external security and managing the periphery of the premises.
The Watch and Ward Officer will coordinate with both the Sergeant-at-Arms and Marshals to ensure a seamless security blanket.
By reverting to the pre-2019 tradition and aligning with Lok Sabha standards, the Speaker maintained that the House is simply acting to make its management more professional and effective. The Privilege Committee will now examine whether the YouTube channel’s reportage crossed the line into contempt of the House.
