Bishnoi dares Hooda to test popularity against him

Fatehabad, Mar 11 (UNI) Suspended Congress MP Kuldeep Bishnoi today dared Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda to test his popularity by contesting election against him from any 'neutral' constituency of the state, after quitting his post.

Talking to mediapersons here, he repeated his charge that Congress President Sonia Gandhi was surrounded by a group of sycophants, who used her to grind their own political axe.

He maintained that the coterie around Ms Gandhi comprised such people, who were not in a position to win a panchayat election on their own.

'' As a result of this policy leaders who have a mass base were feeling cornered,'' he added.

Mr Bishnoi, son of former chief minister Bhajan Lal, said he was not bothered by his suspension from the Congress and dared the party leadership to expel him if it considered his 'pro-people' stance on the SEZ issue as anti-party.

Reacting to the reported demand of his resignation by eight Congress MLAs, whose Assembly constituencies fell under the Bhiwani Parliamentary constituency, which he represents, Mr Bishnoi said he was not afraid to resign but asked Mr Hooda also to resign from the Chief Minister's post and contest election against him.

He said his stand on the SEZ issue would continue and he would not hesitate launching an agitation on this issue in case the government jeopardised the interests of the farmers.

UNI