M A I N   N E W S

HARYANA BUDGET SESSION
Selja camp MLAs allege bias in grant for development works
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 22
At a time when the Opposition is ready to raise the issue of lopsided development in the state in the on-going budget session of the Assembly, two Congress MLAs today went “public” with their protest over the issue. The two legislators were, however, silenced subsequently.

Sources said the two MLAs — Sadhuara’s (Yamunanagar) Rajpal Bhukri and Uklana’s (Hisar) Naresh Selwal, both considered close to Union Minister and Ambala MP, Kumari Selja — first raised the banner of revolt during the meeting of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP).

The duo then tried to raise the issue of lack of development in their respective constituencies in the presence of Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda. Congress leaders said the MLAs’ attempt almost went unacknowledged as the Chief Minister, scheduled to inaugurate a gallery of former and sitting MLAs, left the hall without giving any response.

This provoked the two MLAs who reached the venue and, in the presence of other MLAs, went public with their protest. Naresh Selwel claimed that his contituency has not received enough funds in the last three years. “Today, we were not even allowed to speak for a minute during the CLP meeting. My constituency is being discriminated against only because I’m close to Union Minister Kumari Selja. I will not take it lying down,” he said, threatening to hold a press conference with another MLA Rajpal Bhukri.

Bhukri said he was very “unhappy” with the way things are in his constituency. “We are being denied an opportunity to air our grievances at every forum,” he claimed. Some MLAs were seen trying to placate the duo. After some time, Bhukri was “escorted” to Hooda, who, clearly displeased over his behaviour, gave him a piece of his mind, said sources. “The two MLAs tried to raise some issue and I told them that we were running behind schedule. I told Bhukri that if he wants to discuss something with me he is welcome to do it. They can air their grievances anytime,” Hooda said. He denied allegations of "favouritism" in development works.