Former Haryana Chief Minister and Congress’ Sonipat Lok Sabha candidate Bhupinder Singh Hooda launched an all-out attack on the ruling BJP government on Monday, saying that the BJP was a fake party with fake nationalism, aimed only at drawing political advantage from the sacrifice and valour of the armed forces.
Mr. Hooda, who carried out a marathon roadshow in 34 villages culminating at the Jind Town Hall, said, “Every solider fights for the unity and dignity of the motherland. He makes the supreme sacrifice for the nation and not any individual. These brave sons and daughters of India come from ordinary families. To call the Indian Army as [Narendra] Modi’s Army is an insult not only to the sacrifice of these brave-hearts, but also to the nation.”
Reminding the audience of the valour of the armed forces, he said 93,000 Pakistani soldiers were forced to surrender when Indira Gandhi was the Prime Minister and Pakistan was divided into two parts. “The Congress party has never done politics in the name of our soldiers nor did she seek votes in their name, like Mr. Modi is doing now,” said Mr. Hooda, caught in a three-cornered contest with the BJP’s Ramesh Chander Kaushik and Jannayak Janta Party’s Digvijay Singh Chautala.
The former Chief Minister said farmers, traders and the youth of Haryana had suffered greatly under the BJP rule in the State as the government had failed to deliver even the basics of governance. “The BJP came to power after making tall promises, but they threw their manifesto in the dustbin as soon as they came to power. The government has done nothing and this is why they have been forced to seek votes in the name of Mr. Modi,” he said.
Mr. Hooda also talked about the achievements of the Congress government and said the Congress government had provided relief to all sections. Talking about the future agenda of the Congress, Mr. Hooda said that the party would launch the final assault against chronic poverty in the country by providing an income support of ₹72,000 to 25 crore to poor families in the country.
“Today, there is a strong wave in favour of the Congress in Haryana and we will win all 10 seats,” he said.