Birender Singh trains guns on Hooda, demands probe into CLU scam

NEW DELHI: Hours after taking charge as Union minister, former Congress leader Chaudhary Birender Singh today trained his guns on his bete noir Bhupinder Singh Hooda demanding a probe into the cash-for-change of land use (CLU) scam that surfaced during his rule in Haryana.

"I am on record... the total CLU (in Haryana) should be probed. They (the state BJP government headed by Manohar Lal Khattar) have already committed (to a probe)," Singh, now BJP's Jat face in Haryana, said when asked about the future of Congress in the state in wake of land scams allegedly involving its leaders grabbing national attention.

The Haryana Lokayukta has already directed the state police to hold investigation into the alleged scandal and submit its report within three months.

Opposition parties in the state had alleged that Congress legislators were seeking illegal gratification in return of CLU permissions in the state.

Singh, who took over as the Minister for Rural Development, Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water and Sanitation, said that the Congress will be in same position for at least next 10 years both nationally and in Haryana.

"In my state, transfer of vote from Congress to BJP is complete now. In Haryana and nationally, Congress will be in same position. I don't see any ray of hope at least for next 10 years," he said.

Singh, who is a key rival of Hooda, said Congress in Haryana became "Hooda Congress" and that was the simple reason why he quit the party which he associated for 42 years.

"My leaving Congress was very simple. Congress was totally in the pocket of Hooda as far as Haryana is concerned. In that situation, I told Congress president Sonia Gandhi. If this situation continues, I will not be in the party," he said.

Asked why Congress allowed such a unilateral power structure in Haryana, Singh said, "That is surprising for me. Congress in Haryana became Hooda Congress."

On the issue of impending changes in the Land Acquisition Act, Birender Singh said, efforts will be made to bring about a consensus on the issue.

He further added that the Government is not against industrialisation but the interests of the farmers should not be compromised at any cost.

Singh also clarified that he is not in favour of acquisition of multi-crop lands.

When asked whether amendments in the Act will be made in the coming winter session of Parliament, the Minister replied that he will study the issue first and then will formulate his opinion in a couple of days.

Referring to the Swachh Bharat Mission, the Minister said building toilets in the rural areas will be taken on war footing and a massive awareness campaign will be launched for behavioural change as far as sanitation and cleanliness are concerned.

Singh also underlined that the problem of drinking water mainly in the arsenic and fluoride affected regions will be addressed on a priority basis.

He said nearly 78,000 villages or habitations are facing this problem and also hinted that international expertise will be applied to solve the problem.

Earlier, the Minister of State for Rural Development Sudarshan Bhagat and Minister of State for Panchayati Raj Nihal Chand also took charge of their respective Ministries.