Bhupinder Singh Hooda rebuffs charge on land deals, says BJP in for shock

New Delhi, Sept 29: Unfazed by the Opposition's attacks over allegedly favouring Robert Vadra in land deals, Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Monday took on his detractors wondering why they have not approached the Lokayukta or the courts.

"I have not favoured anybody. It is all false propaganda," he said.

Hooda, who is hoping to win assembly elections for the third time, also took on the Centre over the demand for substantial raise in Minimum Support Prices of paddy and wheat that has not found favour with the Narendra Modi government.

"I am holding a constitutional post. I cannot do what Arvind Kejriwal did as Delhi Chief Minister (by going on a dharna). But I can take any stern step for the cause of farmers," he said without elaborating.

Hooda told PTI that he had written to Prime Minister over the plight of wheat and paddy growers in the state and had sought substantial hike but the government has rejected his demand.

To questions about the campaign launched by the BJP that he had allegedly benefited the son-in-law of Sonia Gandhi, he remarked, "I have not favoured anybody. I have not allotted even an inch of land to any builder. It is all false propaganda. There are institutions in the state. There is a Lokayukta and there are courts. They should have approached...." Hooda also hit out at two key leaders of the Om Prakash Chautala led INLD for accusing him of graft.

He said he would be filing criminal and civil suits against them "to expose their lies". Steering clear of questions as to whether BJP or INLD was the Congress' main rival in the October 15 polls, he ridiculed INLD over its declaration that Chautala, who is in jail, will be its CM candidate.

"This means those who want to meet the Chief Minister of the INLD will have to commit an offence and go to jail. The INLD should not make mockery of rule of law and misguide the people. Even Jayalalithaa bowed out of office following an adverse verdict," he said referring to the former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, who was convicted in an illegal assets case.

PTI