The budget session of the Haryana Legislative Assembly commenced on a charged political note, setting the stage for a sharp confrontation between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and the opposition Congress.

With the session scheduled to continue until March 18, both sides have outlined their strategies, signalling intense debates inside the House and political mobilisation outside.

The Business Advisory Committee has approved the session calendar. Cabinet Minister Krishan stated that the government is fully prepared to address all issues raised during the proceedings. Regular sittings will take place from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM, while post-recess discussions will resume at 2:00 PM.

March 16 has been earmarked for voting to fill two vacant seats in the Rajya Sabha, adding further political significance to the session.

Opposition prepares aggressive strategy

Leader of the Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda made it clear that the Congress intends to mount a strong challenge to the government. The party plans to raise concerns over law and order, pension reductions for senior citizens, waterlogging affecting agricultural land, alleged illegal mining activities, and Haryana’s claim over Chandigarh.

Hooda also expressed confidence that the Congress would contest and secure one of the Rajya Sabha seats.

Adding to the political pressure, Haryana Congress president Rao Narender Singh announced a protest march on February 25 against the alleged scrapping of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act scheme. The announcement indicates that the opposition’s campaign will extend beyond Assembly debates.

BJP readies counterattack

On the government’s side, the BJP legislative party held a meeting under Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini to chalk out its response strategy. PWD Minister Ranbir Gangwa said the government is ready for what he described as a fact-based and constructive debate.

With protests planned and crucial issues lined up for discussion, the Haryana budget session is expected to witness high political drama in the coming weeks.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron in Delhi on the sidelines of the India AI Impact Summit 2026, with both leaders underlining the depth of the India-France partnership.

Before the meeting, Macron lauded India’s digital transformation and its evolving role in global technology governance during his address at the summit, calling the country’s progress a benchmark for others.

The personal warmth between the two leaders was evident during Macron’s fourth visit to India since PM Modi’s trip to Marseille. Macron said ties between India and France extend beyond traditional friendship and reflect a strategic bond that has evolved over the past 26 years.

Responding to a question on the nature of the bilateral partnership and the Rafale fighter jet agreement, the French President described it as a “global strategic partnership”, suggesting that the relationship operates at a higher level than a conventional strategic arrangement.

Macron referred to the agreement involving 114 Rafale fighter jets and also highlighted the helicopter deal with Airbus, noting that the final assembly line is located in Karnataka.

Artificial intelligence was another key theme of the discussions. While Macron spoke about the transformative potential of AI, he also cautioned against associated risks. He referred to a proposal under consideration in France to restrict social media access for those under 15.

Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw had earlier mentioned at a press conference that India is also examining regulatory measures related to AI access for young people.

With the upcoming G7 Summit scheduled in the coming months, PM Modi is expected to travel for the meeting, where another interaction between the two leaders is likely.

Macron and his wife arrived in Mumbai on Tuesday as part of their India visit. They were received at the airport by Maharashtra Governor Acharya Devvrat and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. The delegation later travelled to Delhi for the summit engagements.

The visit reflects continued momentum in the India-France strategic partnership, with growing focus on defence collaboration, artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.

Jay Pawar, the younger son of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, has called for a comprehensive and impartial investigation into the plane crash near Baramati that claimed his father’s life along with four others on January 28.

In a social media post on Wednesday, Jay Pawar raised concerns over what he described as “possible serious lapses” that may have led to the fatal accident. He asserted that the aircraft’s black box is not easily destroyed and stressed that people of Maharashtra deserve to know the complete truth behind the crash.

Demand for action against aviation company

The ill-fated Learjet 45XR aircraft was operated by VSR Ventures Private Limited. Jay Pawar urged authorities to conduct a detailed probe into the firm’s operations and sought a ban on the aviation company pending investigation.

“A detailed investigation of possible serious lapses and irregularities of the aircraft firm should be done in a detailed and impartial manner,” he said.

The crash occurred near the Baramati airstrip, resulting in the deaths of Ajit Pawar and four others.

Call for CBI probe and sabotage allegations

Jay Pawar’s statement came a day after Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar and leaders from the Nationalist Congress Party met Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to demand a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the accident.

Separately, NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar alleged there was reason to suspect sabotage in the crash and called for a multi-agency investigation involving experts.

During a press conference last week, Rohit Pawar also questioned the past record of Captain Sumit Kapoor, who was piloting the aircraft on the day of the crash. He referred to the pilot’s previous three-year suspension for alcohol consumption.

AAIB seeking support to retrieve CVR data

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is conducting a detailed probe into the crash. According to the agency, special technical assistance has been sought to retrieve data from the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) of the Learjet 45 aircraft involved in the accident.

The investigation is ongoing.