Hooda hits back, calls Birendra Singh 'frustrated'

Chandigarh, Sep 2: A day after BJP leader Birender Singh launched an all out offensive against Bhupinder Singh Hooda, the Chief Minister hit back at the former Congress leader saying his remarks are a result of "frustration".

"I have read about these (remarks) in the newspapers...I can say one thing that he is leveling all charges out of sheer frustration," Hooda said.

The Chief Minister refuted assertions made by Birender that he did not let him become a part of the union cabinet last year and said that the latter was made the Congress party's General Secretary and a Rajya Sabha MP.

Birender, who recently joined BJP after snapping four-decade old ties with Congress, had charged Hooda for taking the state backwards and bringing disrepute to the state by indulging in land scams. He alleged that Hooda has "monopolized" things in the Congress's state unit.

"In the last ten years, Hooda has finished Congress in Haryana and taken it backwards," he had alleged. Rebutting these allegations, Hooda told reporters this evening, "He (Birender) is leveling baseless allegations, speaking out of sheer frustration and making excuses."

The Chief Minister said Congress party is very strong in Haryana and exuded confidence that they would form the next government in the state for a third consecutive term. Hitting out at the BJP leader, Hooda claimed that in 2009, when Congress came back to power, Birender could not win the Uchana Kalan Assembly seat.

"He is only trying to find his lost political ground. The man who lost then how can he make others victorious?" he mocked. When asked about reports of Haryana Janhit Congress chief Kuldeep Bishnoi meeting him after the party recently called off its alliance with the BJP, Hooda neither confirmed nor denied such a meeting.

"So many people keep meeting me.. Whatever reply I had to give, I have given. I am not obliged to give answer to every question on who meets me and who does not," he said.

On BJP and other parties campaigns accusing Hooda Government of indulging in corruption and land scams in the state, the Chief Minister without naming anyone, said, "those who have been charge sheeted and are facing cases of disproportionate assets were now making irresponsible statements".

"I don't pass any personal remarks, I don't believe in this kind of politics. Some decorum has to be maintained in public life," he added.

Hooda said Congress would very soon come out with its poll manifesto and senior leaders will come to campaign for the party in Haryana including party president Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi for the Assembly elections slated for later next month.

When asked about the 100 days of Modi Government at the Centre, he said, "the hopes and aspirations which they (BJP) had raised among the people at the time of Lok Sabha polls have turned into disappointment.

They sold dreams of better days, but it turned out to be otherwise as prices have increased."

PTI