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Chautala asks supporters to `throw out inept Hooda regime'

Rajesh Ahuja

Urges workers to revive, strengthen INLD's organisation at the grassroots level

CHANDIGARH: Former Haryana Chief Minister and Indian National Lok Dal president Om Parkash Chautala, who returned to India from the U.S. on Monday after a long stay for medical treatment, addressed a massive rally at Meham in Rohtak district where he issued a clarion call to his supporters to "throw out" the "inept and corrupt" Bhupinder Singh Hooda regime in the State as it had failed on "all fronts".

Mr. Chautala, who had been recuperating in the U.S. after undergoing surgeries, launched a scathing attack on Congress president Sonia Gandhi in the presence of former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah, former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Uma Bharti and former Delhi Chief Minister Madan Lal Khurana.

Interestingly, the speakers also flayed the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress and hinted at the formation of a third front. The rally was convened to pay rich tributes to the late Deputy Prime Minister and Mr. Chautala's father Tau Devi Lal.

Mr. Chautala urged the party workers to revive and strengthen the INLD's organisation at the grassroots by enrolling more members if they wanted to "fight the inefficient and inept" Congress regime in the State.

Mr. Chautala ridiculed the "claim" of Ms. Gandhi that she had made a "sacrifice" by renouncing the Prime Ministership. He alleged that it was the President who had `turned down' her claim on the basis of "certain legalities". It was rather his late father who had sacrificed the Prime Ministership by offering the post to V.P. Singh, he added.

Power shortages

Criticising the Hooda Government, he asserted that his regime had left behind full coffers after ushering in rapid development in the rural areas to bring them at par with the urban pockets.

When he relinquished office, there was ample electricity in the State but today the people, especially farmers, were facing the worst-ever power shortages, he said.

Mr.Chautala also criticised the Hooda Government's decision to hand over prime agricultural land to Reliance for setting up a Special Economic Zone at throwaway rates and asserted that "injustice" to farmers would not be tolerated at any cost.

While refusing to "comment" on the "merits or demerits" of the CBI enquiry against him and his family, he asserted that he welcomed such "investigations" as he had nothing to fear. Mr. Chautala also charged that several "corrupt" bureaucrats who had faced "enquiries" had been given prime postings by the State Government whereas thousands of employees had been rendered jobless.

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Chautala asks supporters to `throw out inept Hooda regime'

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