New Delhi, August 1
The new Haryana Congress chief, Mr Bhajan Lal, today said minor changes would be in the PCC and he would strive to end groupism in the party’s state unit.

“I will strengthen the Congress and talk to all leaders to end groupism,’’ Mr Bhajan Lal told The Tribune here. “I am an elder in the state Congress and it is my duty to carry everyone along,’’ he said.

The former Chief Minister, who would go to the Haryana PCC office in Chandigarh on August 6, where a function has been planned by his supporters, said that he would only make “ the necessary changes’’ in the PCC. “The changes would not be made at a stretch. The Congressmen are fellow brothers,’’ he said.

The new PCC office-bearers are expected to be announced by August 15, Mr Bhajan Lal indicated.

He said the Congress would launch an agitation against the Chautala government if it victimised its political opponents. The former Chief Minister claimed that people were angry with the Chautala government as it had not fulfilled its election promises.

Mr Bhajan Lal, who has been besieged with congratulatory messages since the announcement was made about his becoming the PCC chief, said he would try to make the best of the responsibility given by Congress President Sonia Gandhi.

Mr Bhajan Lal denied that his becoming the PCC chief had not been welcomed by a section of the people in the state. Referring to the talk in terms of the Jat and non-Jats, the former Chief Minister said he would endeavour to root out the caste divide in the state. He blamed former Deputy Prime Minister Devi Lal and former Chief Minister Bhagwat Dayal Sharma for spread of casteism in the state.

Mr Bhajan Lal’s supporters, including some MLAs, met Mrs Gandhi in the evening.