There was open loot in Haryana during Congress, INLD rule: UP CM Yogi Adityanath

Jind (Haryana) [India], September 22 (ANI):Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday slammed the Congress and the Indian National Lok Dal, saying that when they were in power in Haryana, there were open loots in the state.

The Chief Minister alleged that the “loot” was such that even the money from Hindu temples was taken away.

“Congress will come to you and give slogans. INLD will also come to you and give casteist and divisive slogans… I want to ask Congress and INLD what they did when they were in power. There was open loot. They took money from Hindu temples,” CM Adityanath said while addressing an election rally at Narwana in Haryana’s Jind district.

Meanwhile, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini took a dig at the Congress over apparent internal differences and reports in sections of the media about its senior leader Kumari Selja not being visible in the assembly poll campaign for a few days and alleged that the main opposition party “does not respect Dalits.”

He said Kumari Selja, who is an MP from Sirsa, is a leader and if she wanted to become the Chief Minister, what crime has she committed.

He alleged that she has been insulted. “Congress is anti-Dalit, Congress does not respect Dalits. If any Dalit leader wants to move forward in Congress, Congress crushes that leader. Kumari Selja is not a small leader, she is a very big leader of Congress, a big leader of Dalits… She is a leader, if she wanted to become the Chief Minister, what crime did she commit? Congress party is stuck in nepotism, they do not think beyond nepotism,” the Chief Minister said on speculation that Kumari Selja may join the BJP.

However, Congress candidate from Uchana Kalan assembly constituency Brijendra Singh dismissed any speculation of Kumari Selja leaving the party. He alleged that the BJP is “facing frustration” in the Haryana elections.

“Kumari Selja is one of the very senior leaders, there is no point in saying such things about her. She will contribute fully to Congress in this election… BJP is a shop of lies,” Brijendra Singh said.

Former Haryana Chief Minister and BJP leader Manohar Lal Khattar earlier did not rule out the possibility of senior leaders leaving Congress in the run-up to the Haryana polls.

On being asked if Congress MPs Kumari Selja and Randeep Singh Surjewala join the BJP, he said, “It is a world of possibilities, and possibilities cannot be ruled out. You will know everything when the right time comes.”

Voting for the 90-member legislative assembly in Haryana will be held on October 5. Votes will be counted on October 8 along with that in Jammu and Kashmir.