Conference to mark Har golden jubilee boycotted by INLD, Cong

INLD and Congress today boycotted the conference to mark the golden jubilee of Haryana Vidhan Sabha here after venting their ire against the state government over its various alleged "failures" and accusing it of turning the celebrations into a "BJP event".
Both the opposition parties accused the state government of having "failed" to remember the senior leaders who contributed a lot in the formation of Haryana, even as Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar asked the opposition to avoid indulging in politics during the celebrations.
They also hit out at the government for "failing" to protect the interests of farmers, army jawans, other sections of the society, and ignoring various issues such as the Sutlej Yamuna Link Canal.

Speaking at the conference, Abhay Chautala, leader of principal opposition INLD, attacked the BJP-led government for allegedly ignoring various issues such as SYL, farmers plight and contribution of several leaders.
"We have told the Chief Minister many times that the state's farmers are being looted... We wanted to raise this issue to apprise all big leaders who have come here, of how the government is ruining the state, so that they can tell people in their constituencies," Chautala said.
Haryana Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki, Haryana Assembly Speaker Kanwar Pal, Union Ministers Birender Singh, Krishan Pal Gurjar were sitting on the dais at that time.

Chautala said he "regretted" having attended the golden jubilee function at Gurgaon which was chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 1.

"The government has said that the founder of Haryana will be honoured. But on November 1, neither the Prime Minister nor the Chief Minister uttered any word for those who played significant role in the state's creation," he alleged.
Chautala also blamed the state government for "destroying" the social fabric of Haryana due to the Jat agitation earlier this year which left 30 people dead and accused it of "supporting" those who vitiated the atmosphere.
"The government had assured release of innocent youths jailed during Jat agitation and compensation to the family of those who died during the stir. But it failed," he said.

He said INLD will not celebrate the state's golden jubilee with the state government. It will do so on its own by going to villages. After his address, Chautala and other INLD member went out of the conference.
Later, addressing the gathering, Congress MLA and former minister Geeta Bhukkal also attacked the BJP government alleging that the state witnessed "extremely bad" incidents under the Khattar-led government.
She, along with other Congress MLAs, boycotted the
function after completing her address.
"We boycotted it because BJP is celebrating this programme. This is not 50 years of BJP, it is 50 years of the state... There is no mention of leaders of previous governments who contributed for the state in the past," Bhukkal alleged.

She also asked the state government to take a big decision in the interest of farmers after Punjab government refused to give SYL water.
Later, addressing the conference, Khattar urged the political parties not to politicize the year-long Swarna Jayanti celebrations, which are "above and beyond party lines", to ensure all-round development of the state.
"All political parties gave their consent for the programmes. But it is not right that they (Congress, INLD) left after their addressees," Khattar said, adding the celebrations will continue.
The Chief Minister clarified that the budget of Rs 1,700 crore was not meant for the golden jubilee celebrations. It has been earmarked for development works to be undertaken between November 1 and October 31 next year.

The budget can be raised to Rs 5,000 crore as the state government plans to increase the number of development projects and schemes to be executed during the year.
"On October 31, I made 13 big announcements for a cross-section of the people. Apart from this, Narendra Modi made six announcements at Gurgaon, including Automation of Fair Price Shops, which will help in keeping a check on leakage and black-marketing of wheat", Khattar said.
The same day, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu, laid the foundation stone of the elevated rail tracks in Rohtak, which will be the first-of-its-kind railway line in the country.

Haryana is forging ahead on the road to development. The contribution made by former Chief Ministers in the state's growth story cannot be forgotten, Khattar said and referred to the contributions made by Pt. Bhagwat Dayal Sharma, Rao Birender Singh, Ch. Bansi Lal, Banarsi Das Gupta, Master Hukam Singh, Ch. Devi Lal, Bhajan Lal and Om Parkash Chautala.
He assured that his government will work with the spirit of 'Haryana Ek Haryanvi Ek' by rising above the consideration of caste and maintaining the spirit of brotherhood.
Reiterating that the golden jubilee celebrations of Haryana is of all the people of the state, the Chief Minister said, programmes will be organised throughout the year and all over the state, and people who have made outstanding contribution in different walks of life, will be honoured.

He urged members of the Legislative Assembly, former MLAs, and current and former MPs to give their suggestions so that these could be incorporated in the list of programmes to be organised during the Swarna Jayanti Year.