PM plays his Mr Clean card

Hitting out at the Om Prakash Chautala government, the PM urged people to free the state of a ‘‘corrupt’’ government. The tone was forthright and sincere, the message stripped of bravado and flamboyance. ‘‘People should vote for Congress if they desire to end corruption, improve the deteriorating law and order situation and tackle burning issues like unemployment and education,’’ he said, asserting that there was a need to bring a new green revolution.

Singh criticised the state government for setbacks in the field of education and, at a rally in Hissar, said the quality of work at the Hissar Agricultural University will be improved to carry forward the second green revolution. He promised a medical institute, like the PGI, Chandigarh, in Hissar and said development was limited only to Gurgaon and had failed to reach other parts of the state like Faridabad and Sonepat.

He also promised a better deal to farmers if the Congress comes to power. ‘‘If Congress is elected, which I am sure will be the outcome of the polls, the party will work for the welfare of the farmers.’’

‘‘It is in the interest of the people if the same party rules at the Centre and the state. If the people of Haryana want to end corruption, improve law and order, and think of the welfare of farmers, they must strengthen the hands of the Congress,’’ he said, citing the instance of the National Employment Guarantee Scheme.

The PM also cautioned the people against communal forces. The Congress, he said, was a truly secular party which worked for the unity and welfare of the country and has never divided people on the basis of caste or religion.