CHANDIGARH: Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and his predecessor and Indian National Lok Dal supremo Om Parkash Chautala held parallel functions in the Jat-dominated Rohtak belt on Friday to celebrate the 125th birth anniversary of the legendary Sir Chhotu Ram.

Mr. Hooda addressed a gathering in Gohana after unveiling a statue of the late farmers' leader while Mr. Chautala addressed a well-attended rally at Garhi Sampla.

Both leaders called upon the people to emulate the principles propagated by Deen Bandhu Sir Chhotu Ram, who championed the cause of the poor and worked for emancipation of labourers and the peasantry, but criticised each other and claimed to be carrying forward his "true legacy".

Accusing the Haryana Government of anti-poor and anti-people policies, Mr. Chautala criticised the move of the Hooda regime to give a "loan" to the Punjab Government that had been openly creating hurdles in the construction of the remaining portion of the Sutlej Yamuna Link Canal in Haryana territory.

Mr. Chautala also cautioned Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh not to make controversial statements about territorial and other disputes and asserted that Punjab had no claim whatsoever on Chandigarh.

The former Chief Minister also asserted that the INLD would ensure that the land of farmers was acquired by the Government or private developers at the market rate.

Meanwhile, talking to media persons in Gohana, Mr. Hooda said that the Government was aware of the concerns of the farmers at the acquisition of their lands for setting up the Rajiv Gandhi Education City in Sonepat. Stating that these "problems" had been resolved, he assured that no injustice would be meted out to the farmers and their interest would be fully protected.

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