Hooda jeered by hostile crowd in Modi's presence

Kaithal (Har), Aug 19: Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda was today left red faced as a hostile crowd hooted him at a function in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's presence, following which the angry Congress leader said he would boycott such events with PM. Hooda faced the embarrassment during the foundation stone laying function of a highway project by Modi here.

As he rose to deliver his speech, the crowd gathered there raised slogans against him and the Congress government. As Hooda hurriedly continued to read out from his prepared speech, Modi waved to the crowds urging them to remain calm.

However, the people were in no mood to pay heed and continued to interrupt the chief minister's speech, which was lost in the din. There was continuous hooting against the two-time Chief Minister of Haryana, which goes to polls in October, and pro-Modi slogans were raised, much to Hooda's discomfort.

Later, a fuming Chief Minister blamed BJP for the incident. Speaking to reporters, Hooda said that the BJP "has not done a right thing" with him. "I will not participate in any such function of the Prime Minister in future," he said.

Hooda said that it was an official function and the BJP has violated the "sanctity" of the occasion and added he will stay away from such events in future. Amid hot and sultry weather conditions, police and other security personnel faced a tough time controlling the crowds, which barged into the media enclosure as Modi began his speech after laying the foundation stone of the highway project.

PTI