Days after former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda's supporters were manhandled at a workers' meeting in Hisar during a programme headed by state Congress president Ashok Tanwar and Congress Legislature Party leader Kiran Choudhry, Hooda flexed his muscles on Sunday by having 14 of the 15 total elected MLAs of the party at his programme.
The only MLA, who was not present during the meeting held at Chottu Ram Dharamshala here was Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Kiran Choudhry, a known detractor of Hooda. Haryana Congress president Ashok Tanwar, who nowadays is holding workers' meeting to review party debacle in the state polls, was also absent.
"I do not fear backstabbers as I am one who knows how to face the problem head on but today's presence on stage at workers' meeting showed whose presence matters in the Congress," said Hooda, who is legislator from Garhi Sampla Kiloi.
Notably, in earlier meetings of Hooda at Jhajjar, Sonepat and Palwal, all the 14 party legislators were present, while in meetings organised under Tanwar and Choudhry at Jind, Karnal and Hisar, few party legislators were seen. Both the leaders of the opposite camp did not attend each others' meeting.
Later, interacting with the media, Hooda dubbed the Vadra land deal a dead issue, which the BJP is raising for political reasons.
On the economic state of Haryana, the former chief minister said his party had left the state in sound health and the debt on the state claimed by state finance minister Capt Abhimanyu was wrong as the previous government under him had incurred debt under permissible limits.
Hooda also urged the state government to issue a white paper to establish the fact that the state was not reeling under any debt-like situation.
On the economic state of Haryana, the former chief minister said his party had left the state in sound health and the debt on the state claimed by state finance minister Capt Abhimanyu was wrong as the previous government under him had incurred debt under permissible limits.
Hooda also urged the state government to issue a white paper to establish the fact that the state was not reeling under any debt-like situation.
Responding on the urea crisis, Hooda said it was high time the state government ensured proper and uninterrupted supply of fertilisers or else they would resort to agitation in support of farmers.