INDL rubbishes Shah's 'hooliganism during Chautala rule' remark, says BJP was alliance partner then

INLD leader Abhay Singh Chautala Monday rubbished BJP chief Amit Shah's allegation that hooliganism was rampant in Haryana during Om Prakash Chautala's rule and reminded that the two parties were in alliance then.

"If Chaudhary Om Prakash Chautala's rule had spread lawlessness in the state, then the BJP too was equally responsible for it. During the 1999 Lok Sabha polls, the INLD and the BJP were alliance partners and had also contested the 2000 Vidhan Sabha polls in alliance and came to power," he said in a statement here.

Addressing a poll rally in Sonipat on Sunday, Shah had alleged that for years power in Haryana was concentrated among the Hoodas and the Chautalas.

"When Hooda came to power, corruption increased. When Chautala was there, hooliganism increased," the BJP chief had said.

Abhay Singh Chautala said the BJP was in alliance with Bansi Lal's Haryana Vikas Party during the 1996 Vidhan Sabha polls and was also in the government formed by the late leader.

"For the sheer magnitude of crime and lawlessness, that period between 1996 and 1998 is the darkest chapter in Haryana's history It was only when the outcry against this rule of the mafia reached a crescendo that the then BJP leaders approached Chaudhary Om Prakash Chautala to pull the state out of that quagmire by forming a government with BJP support. He duly obliged for the sake of the state and restored law and order," the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) leader said.

"The BJP is known for its penchant for creating history based on falsehoods and distortion of facts. It is no surprise that during the poll season, BJP has drawn this (hooliganism) accusation from its drawer of extraordinary falsehoods," Abhay Singh Chautala said.

Polling for the 10 Lok Sabha seats in Haryana will be held in the sixth phase on May 12 and the INLD is fighting all the constituencies alone.