CHANDIGARH: Presence of Haryana opposition leader Bhupinder Hooda in the G23 event at Jammu has triggered criticism from his political rivals.
Hooda’s rivals, especially those in HPCC president Selja’s camp said, “He is among those leaders who are going against the high command and the party will certainly take note of all those who joined. It is really strange that the meeting was done at a time when the Congress has to plan for assembly elections in five states.”
Vivek Bansal, AICC in-charge for Haryana expressed inability to comment. “As of now, I am not aware about facts. We are looking into it, hence I shall not remark till I am apprised about the incident,’’ he said.
Haryana health and home minister Anil Vij was quick to react to the choice of headgear of those who attended the meeting. “It was really pleasant to see those in G23, especially Bhupinder Hooda donning the saffron headgear by removing the Gandhian cap. This clearly shows that they had been dragging on with the party with a thought in mind that the Congress party is a sulking ship now. Now, RaGa will be all alone,’’ said Vij adding that he would welcome them to don the saffron headgear.
Former Haryana Congress chief Ashok Tanwar also targeted Hooda and Ghulam Nabi Azad. “We had been saying from the beginning that the B team of BJP is working in the Congress party and this has started coming out in the open,’’ Tanwar said at Rohtak.
When contacted, Hooda maintained that he had joined the function organised by an NGO on the retirement of Ghulam Nabi Azad. “He is our senior colleague and we have worked together for years. Hence, attended the function. We have all expressed solidarity with and categorically said that we shall work to strengthen the party at all levels. Hence, there is no such issue as has been speculated. Rest, for the sake for making the party strong, we stand by what had been written in the letter,’’ said Hooda.
On Vij’s headgear comment, he said, “As far as headgear is concerned, it was the Rajputana pagdi which was offered to all of us by the organiser. Let me make it clear that the Congress is in our blood and we shall work to strengthen the party at all levels.”