Kundu withdraws support; no threat to Khattar govt

Geetanjali Gayatri

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 27

The “clean chit” given by Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar to his coalition government over allegations of corruption today cost him the support of Independent MLA Balraj Kundu. The BJP-JJP government formed after a post-poll alliance, however, faces no immediate threat and has the numbers on its side in the 90-member Haryana Vidhan Sabha.

Announcing the decision to withdraw support to the Khattar government after the conclusion of the day’s proceedings of the Budget session, Kundu said he would call on the Governor tomorrow and convey his decision. The Meham MLA expressed disappointment at the clean chit given without holding an inquiry into graft charge levelled by him over the past one month involving the Local Bodies Department and sugar mills. Khattar, in his reply on the Governor’s address, gave a “scam-free” chit to his government while maintaining he was open to investigating any “credible primary material” provided to him.

After listing out initiatives by his government to curb corruption, Khattar addressed the allegations of irregularities in the setting up of two sewage treatment plants and under-pricing of molasses.

The CM said the difference in cost of setting up of the plants in Karnal and Rohtak was because of the “difference in specifications and requirements of the two plants”.

On the allegations of under-pricing of molasses, the CM said he had found nothing amiss. “I am willing to look into the allegations if any member lists substantially higher price of molasses prevalent in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh in the past five years,” he said.

Since both issues were raised by Kundu and Congress MLA BB Batra in the House, an agitated Kundu sought to know if the CM was giving those guilty of irregularities a clean chit, to which Khattar replied in the affirmative. Khattar went on to demolish other allegations levelled by members, saying his government was working with transparency.

Taking a dig at the Congress, Khattar said he, after becoming CM, once received a message from mining barons asking him where to send “something belonging to him”.

“I told them I did not forget anything anywhere. Then, they explained previous CMs accepted whatever was sent. I have no proof and I am not making an allegation,” he maintained even as Bhupinder Singh Hooda objected.

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