Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath criticized the Congress and Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) on Sunday, alleging that both parties engaged in “open loot” when they were in power in Haryana. He claimed that even money from Hindu temples was taken during their rule.
Speaking at an election rally in Narwana, Jind district, Adityanath said, “Congress will come to you with slogans, and INLD will give casteist and divisive slogans. But I want to ask what they did when they were in power. There was open loot, and they took money from Hindu temples.”
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini joined in the criticism, targeting the Congress for its internal differences and the absence of senior leader Kumari Selja from the election campaign. He accused the Congress of being “anti-Dalit” and disrespecting Dalit leaders.
“Kumari Selja is not a small leader; she is a significant figure for the Dalits and the Congress. If she wanted to become the Chief Minister, what crime did she commit? Congress crushes any Dalit leader who tries to move forward,” Saini stated, hinting at speculation that Selja might join the BJP.
Brijendra Singh, a Congress candidate from the Uchana Kalan assembly constituency, dismissed rumors about Kumari Selja leaving the party. He alleged that the BJP is “facing frustration” in the Haryana elections, adding, “Kumari Selja is one of our very senior leaders. She will contribute fully to Congress in this election. The BJP is a shop of lies.”
Former Haryana Chief Minister and BJP leader Manohar Lal Khattar did not rule out the possibility of senior Congress leaders, including Kumari Selja and Randeep Singh Surjewala, joining the BJP ahead of the Haryana polls. “It is a world of possibilities, and possibilities cannot be ruled out. You will know everything when the right time comes,” Khattar said.
The elections for the 90-member Haryana Legislative Assembly will be held on October 5, with the counting of votes scheduled for October 8, alongside the elections in Jammu and Kashmir.
