Chautala hits out at Cong in Punjab rallies

Chandigarh, Feb 2 (UNI) Former Haryana chief minister and Indian National Lok Dal chief Om Parkash Chautala today urged Punjab's electorate to vote out the Congress from power in the state as a precursor to its ouster from the Centre.

''The people of Punjab can show a way to the rest of the country by wiping out the Congress from the state,'' Mr Chautala said while addressing rallies in favour of Shiromani Akali Dal candidates in Lehragaga and Budladha assembly constituencies.

Launching a scathing attack on Congress, he said the party was responsible for the prevalent poverty, corruption and unemployment.

He also accused the Congress of dividing the people on caste, creed and regional lines to procure votes and rule the country.

Mr Chautala also condemned the Congress governments for acquiring farmers' land in the name of Special Economic Zones (SEZs). SEZs, he alleged, were ''a deep-rooted conspiracy to destablise the farming community''.

UNI