Leader of Opposition in the Haryana legislative assembly, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, has issued a strong demand for the state government to immediately convene a special session of the assembly. The former Chief Minister stated that critical issues concerning Chandigarh, the Satluj-Yamuna Link (SYL) project, and a recent sports tragedy require urgent legislative discussion.
Failure on Chandigarh and SYL: Core Demands
Bhupinder Singh Hooda launched a sharp critique against the ruling BJP government, accusing it of a complete failure in protecting Haryana's rights. He highlighted two persistent problems: the status of Chandigarh and the implementation of the SYL canal project.
"It is clear that the BJP government has completely failed to protect Haryana's rights regarding Chandigarh and the Satluj-Yamuna Link project," Hooda asserted. He pointed out that the state government has been unable to acquire land for a new assembly building in Chandigarh and has failed to secure Haryana's rightful share of SYL water.
Emphasizing the legal standpoint, Hooda noted that despite clear orders from the Supreme Court, the BJP-led administration has not ensured the state receives its allocated water. On the Chandigarh matter, he criticized the central government's ambiguous stance. "The central government itself is unable to clarify whether the two states will have a shared capital or whether it will become a full-fledged Union Territory," he added, insisting all these issues be debated in the assembly.
Allegations on Sports Infrastructure and Vote Rigging
Hooda expanded his accusations to encompass the state of sports in Haryana, linking it to a recent tragic incident. He declared that the government would also need to answer questions regarding the deaths of two basketball players.
"The BJP government has completely ruined Haryana's sports infrastructure," Hooda claimed. He alleged that the dilapidated condition of stadiums directly led to the death of the two promising athletes. Furthermore, he accused the government of neglecting the world-class sports infrastructure built during the previous Congress regime.
Addressing a press conference in Gurugram, the Congress leader also turned his focus to the recent elections. He stated that preparations are in full swing for a major Congress rally in Delhi, where senior party leaders will present their views on alleged vote theft.
"The BJP formed the government by rigging the votes. Rahul Gandhi presented detailed evidence of this," Hooda alleged. He pointed to the voter turnout figures released by the Election Commission after the polls on October 5, 2024. Initially, the reported turnout was 61.19 percent. This figure was revised to 65.65 percent on October 6, and again to 65.9 percent on October 7.
"Will the Election Commission answer how the vote counts were increasing automatically for three consecutive days?" Hooda questioned, suggesting the numbers were manipulated.
Condemning Caste Politics and Reaffirming Ideology
On the topic of caste-based statements made by BJP leaders, Hooda offered a political analysis. He suggested that a government with no substantive achievements or work to showcase often resorts to divisive caste-based politics.
In contrast, he reaffirmed the Congress party's commitment to its core ideology. Hooda stated that the Congress remains steadfast and will continue to promote and carry forward the brotherhood among all 36 communities in Haryana, positioning his party as a unifying force against divisive tactics.
