HVP challenges Jindal to prove allegations of misappropriation

CHANDIGARH, Nov 25: The ruling Haryana Vikas Party today challenged former MP Om Parkash Jindal, who recently quit the party, to prove his a...

CHANDIGARH, Nov 25: The ruling Haryana Vikas Party today challenged former MP Om Parkash Jindal, who recently quit the party, to prove his allegations of misappropriation of funds by party chief and Chief Minister Bansi Lal. Jindal resigned from the party after accusing Bansi Lal of "nepotism and casteism".

In a statement issued here today, HVP organising secretary Abhey Ram Dahiya described the allegations levelled by Jindal that Bansi Lal was in possession of Rs 6 crores raised for party funds. "The donations were deposited in bank and party records were maintained and audited balance sheets prepared every year. Besides, income returns had been filed by the party regularly," he said.

Extending an offer to Jindal and his chartered accountants to inspect party records to verify this, Dahiya said the Chief Minister had nothing to do with the party funds and donations taken by him at any stage were deposited with the party. During pre-election party work, Bansi Lal had paid from his pocket even for diesel used for his car, driver’s salary and expenses at rest houses, he pointed out.

Dahiya said that the rebel leader was making all these allegations to gain cheap publicity. "Jindal was very keen to get elected to the Rajya Sabha but he got frustrated when Bansi Lal declined his request. He has actually left the party for personal agradisement," he claimed.

The HVP organising seceretary said that Jindal had approached Home Minister and HVP Parliament Board chairman Mani Ram Godara for allotment of ticket from Bhiwani Lok Sabha constituency but he was told in clear terms to approach the Chief Minister for this. When Jindal failed to get ticket, the gap between him and Bansi Lal further widened, he said.

Strongly refuting the allegations of casteism, Dahiya said Jindal himself was "anti-jat and showed his castiest tendencies". He said the Chief Minister had never discriminated against any caste, religion or region in the state. "Bansi Lal is a known secular person", he said.

The HVP leader denied the charges related to the stoppage of aid to the Maharaja Aggarsain Medical College and Hospital (MAMCH). He said the rebel leader, being an industrialist, should be able to run the MAMCH instead of blaming the present HVP-BJP government for having stopped its grant. It was the Bhajan Lal led Congress government which had stopped the grant to the college in 1995, he clarified.