Putting aside differences, Haryana Cong leaders come together to take on BJP govt

Gurugram: All the top leaders from the Haryana Congress on Friday assembled in Gurugram and launched an aggressive attack against the BJP government in the state. The leaders claimed that this time Congress will win the assembly elections by two-thirds majority. The new Haryana Congress President Kumari Selja launched a campaign –pehle report, phir vote (first report, then vote).

Under this campaign, the Congress government demanded accountability from the BJP government and highlighted that the five years of BJP government was marked with no progress for Haryana on the ground. Some of the key issues that were raised by the party members included water and power issues, rising unemployment among the youth, poor law and order situation, division among jats and non-jats and huge debt incurred by the state in the last five years.

There were also discussions on the manifesto and how the needs and the aspirations of the 1.82 crores citizens of Haryana can be fulfilled without any bias or favour. The party also made it clear that it will release its list of candidates on September 30.

"We will go to the people of Haryana and will tell them how they have been cheated by the government in these last five years. There is hidden anger among the people of the state and it will be known to the party when the results come out on October 24," said Kumari Selja, the Haryana Congress President.

Even though the party continued to keep a strong face and highlighted that all was well within its unit, questions were raised on the absence of former Haryana Congress President Ashok Tanwar.

Besides allegations of strong groupism, a large number of Congress leaders like Bhupinder Hooda and Kuldeep Bishnoi are also being probed by the public agencies in the acts of corruption. Not being deterred by the investigations and court proceedings against them, the two leaders put a stoic face and stated that this was a move by the present government to weaken them and that now they were frustrated in not doing it.

"The BJP is targetting those members who are raising questions against their misgovernance. Today Haryana is leading in the number of gang rapes and unemployment among the youth. Why has the government not been able to do anything for the welfare of the citizens," said Bhupinder Singh Hooda, former Chief Minister of the state.