Facing allegations of allotment of industrial plots in Panchkula to ‘undeserving candidates’ by his government, former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Tuesday claimed that no illegality was committed in distribution of plots by his Congress government.
“No illegality has been committed in the allotment of these plots,” Mr. Hooda told reporters here when asked about registration of a case by the Haryana State Vigilance Bureau last week. He said a committee had decided on the allotment of plots to the allottees, which included ex-servicemen and women entrepreneurs, and the file had been forwarded to him for approval.
“I have not done anything which violated the law or was against the rules,” he said and charged the BJP government with trying to “divert the people’s attention” from its own alleged failures on various fronts.
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had, last week, ordered a vigilance probe into the allotment of 11 industrial plots by previous Congress government in Industrial Estate, Panchkula in December 2011 to the “undeserving candidates“.
The plots, having area of 496 to 1,280 sq metres, were allegedly allotted to the candidates who were either relatives of the then Chief Minister (Hooda) or those of his close associates and friends, an official statement, released on May 5, had said.
The government had received several complaints about alleged irregularities committed in allotment of industrial plots, including the charge-sheet submitted by Indian National Lok Dal to the Governor in this regard, the release said.
After assuming power, Mr. Khattar government had maintained that it will show zero tolerance towards corruption and probe all acts of omission and commission of the previous Congress government in the State. PTI
