Hooda corners Chautala, embarrased INLD walks out

Chandigarh, Mar 17 (UNI) Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda today cornered opposition Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) leader Om Prakash Chautala in the state assembly on various issues, leading to a walkout by an embarrassed INLD.

During his speech on the Governor's address, Mr Hooda attacked the INLD leader for ''misleading'' the House that the latter's father Devi Lal had announced a loan waiver amounting to thousandas of crores when he was chief minister of the state.

Mr Hooda said as per the records, the loan waiver announced by Mr Devi Lal was to the tune of Rs 34 crore.

A House committee has already been constituted by the Speaker to ascertain the truth of the matter after Mr Chautala made the controversial statement on the floor of the House last week during his speech on the Governor's address.

Mr Hooda also challenged the INLD leader to clarify his position on the Hansi-Bhutana river being constructed by the government to provide water to Southern Haryana districts, so far neglected by the previous governments.

Mr Chautala had also criticised the Hooda government for constructing the Hansi-Bhutana river and had raised a question mark over its fate as Punjab had moved the court on the issue.

Mr Hooda asked the INLD to state in ''yes or no'' whether he favoured the construction of the Hansi-Bhutana river. He also asked Mr Chautala to state whether his MP son Ajay Singh Chautala had made a statement that if the river was completed, it would lead a civil war.

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