Arvind Sharma, Deepender trade barbs in Rohtak ahead of civic elections

In a heated exchange ahead of the civic body elections, Cooperation and Tourism Minister Dr Arvind Sharma and Congress MP Deepender Hooda launched sharp attacks on each other’s parties while addressing separate poll meetings in Rohtak district. Both leaders sought support for their respective candidates.

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Sharma accused Deepender of misleading the public regarding the utilisation of MPLAD funds during his tenure as Rohtak MP from 2019 to 2024.

“During the Lok Sabha elections last year, Deepender falsely claimed that I did not spend my MPLAD funds. However, when the details of the released grant of approximately Rs 17 crore were made public, the Congress was left speechless. Now, Deepender is the Rohtak MP, he should explain how much of the MPLAD funds he has utilised so far,” Sharma asserted.

He further alleged that the Congress had lost its public support and was resorting to baseless allegations due to a lack of real issues.

“The Congress has nothing left to offer. Even after four months, the party has failed to decide on a Leader of Opposition in the state, which clearly indicates that Congress is disconnected from the public. Instead, its leaders are more focused on their own interests,” Sharma said.

Highlighting the BJP government’s achievements, Sharma claimed that jobs were provided to deserving youth without corruption, making Haryana’s employment model an example for other states.

Meanwhile, Deepender, addressing gatherings in Kheri Sadh, Kirpal Nagar and Ekta Colony attacked the BJP’s governance model, alleging large-scale corruption in Haryana’s municipal bodies.

“One engine of the BJP’s ‘triple engine’ facilitates corruption, while the other two protect it,” he charged.

He further accused the BJP of misappropriating Rs 350 crore under the AMRUT Scheme, meant for improving Rohtak’s sewerage, drinking water supply, drainage and parks.

“The then BJP MP himself had also claimed that Rs 350 crore allocated under the AMRUT Scheme was misappropriated, but no investigation was conducted. As a result, Rohtak residents have neither received clean drinking water nor been relieved of the filth,” Deepender alleged.

He demanded that the BJP government reveal who siphoned off the funds and provide transparency regarding the infrastructure projects claimed under the scheme.

“In the upcoming civic elections, the public will take action to curb the arrogance and corruption of the BJP,” he asserted.