Hooda stakes claim on Chandigarh

“Chandigarh was earlier a part of Ambala district and now,though it is a Union territory,it is still a part of Haryana,” said Hooda.

Hooda further claimed Haryana’s dominance over Chandigarh saying,“Punjab has already decided to establish a ‘New Chandigarh’ and moved most of its government offices from Chandigarh to Mohali,thus it is clear that it will not claim right over Chandigarh.”

About the river water dispute between the neighbouring states,he said,“There is no point in Haryana giving up its rightful claim over the river water but as the matter is subjudice,I am sure the Supreme Court will give justice to Haryana.”

Asked about the BJP selecting Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as prime ministerial candidate for 2014,Hooda said,“It is completely an internal matter of the BJP and the Congress has nothing to do with it.” He added,“There is no doubt about the UPA coming to power again in 2014.”

Hooda was in Moga to preside over the last rites of Captain Ranjit Singh Daroli Bhai,a freedom fighter who passed away in his village of Daroli Bhai. He was cremated today with full state honors.

Along with MLAs Tota Singh and Joginder Pal Jain,the CM’s adviser Maheshinder Singh Grewal was present in the village along with PPCC chief Pratap Singh Bajwa.

CM allays fears about farmers’ displacement

Freedom fighter passes away

Freedom fighter Captain Ranjit Singh Daroli Bhai passed away at Ludhiana’s Global Heart Hospital on September 20. He was 86. Born in 1927,Ranjit Singh was inspired by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and joined the Indian National Army. He spent a long time in Rangoon Central Jail after being arrested from Burma by the Japanese. PPCC chief Partap Singh Bajwa condoled the freedom fighter’s death.