Accusing Bharatiya Janata Party of snatching away reservation of Dalits and backward classes by ending permanent jobs, the former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Thursday said that the BJP government has the dubious record of 78 persons being killed in the state it ran a government of lathis and bullets.

Talking to reporters in Karnal, Hooda launched a full-frontal attack on the BJP and said that the BJP has run a government of lathis and bullet in the state for 10 years. “During this anti-people government, a record 78 people were killed by police bullets,” he stated. “During the Dera episode in Panchkula, 40 people died, most of whom were Dalits. It is being said that perhaps 30 of the deceased were Dalits. BJP had allowed a crowd of people to gather in Panchkula against the orders of the court. The High Court itself raised questions on the death of 40 people in police firing, but BJP could not answer anyone,” he said.

Hooda said BJP is an expert in spreading lies. “BJP accuses Congress of cheap land acquisition. Whereas a farmer-friendly land acquisition policy was implemented in Haryana and the entire country during the Congress government,” he said.

“We had implemented floor rates for land in the entire state. Before this, INLD and BJP together looted the farmers in the name of land acquisition. Congress had implemented the rule that royalty will be given for 33 years on land acquisition, but BJP did not give even that to the farmers,” he added.

“ “Today Haryana has become number one in crime, inflation, drug addiction and unemployment. Incidents of murder and extortion are happening every day,” he stated, comparing the 10-year terms of Congress and BJP government.

In response to a question, he said Congress will give jobs only on the basis of merit. “BJP has made Kaushal Rojgar Nigam a den of corruption and sold jobs like items in a grocery shop. Here recruitments have been done without merit and reservation,” he said.

“BJP ate away the reservation of SC and OBC on the pretext of Kaushal Nigam. Congress will make the employees of Kaushal Nigam permanent by accommodating them and will correct this system,” he added.