BJP blames Sonia, Hooda for mess

Will the Congress chief still laud her party govts policy, it asks

The BJP on Monday sought an explanation from Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Haryana Chief Minister Bhupendra Singh Hooda on failing to protect and promote industrial hub in Gurgaon-Manesar-Rewari belt.

Reacting to a recent dangerous labour unrest at Maruti Suzuki’s Manesar plant that left a HR general manager dead and several others injured, BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman said this belt has been hit by problems that has pulled down the “industrial harmony”, but the Haryana chief minister has failed to take action to arrest the issues.

This area of Gugaon-Manesar and Rewari was an ambitious industrial hub when Maruti decided to set up their plant years ago in Gurgaon, she said.

Sitharaman attacks

Sitharaman attacked Sonia for lauding Haryana’s land acquisition policy when certain places in Uttar Pradesh, including Greater Noida, were burning over the farmers demand for more compensation from the government which took over their land for real estate development.

In the backdrop of clashes between the police and farmers on Sunday that also led to blockade of Delhi-Jaipur highway, Sitharaman sarcastically remarked will Sonia still laud the Congress state government’s policy?

Over 50 people, including 40 police personnel, were injured on Sunday as an agitation by farmers turned violent near Asalwas village in Haryana’s Rewari district.

The farmers, who were opposing acquisition of their lands, had gathered for a mahapanchayat to discuss the acquisition of over 3,000 acres by the state government in over 20 villages for setting up an industrial area.
The BJP has decided to send a delegation to this industrial belt to ascertain ground realities soon.

Modi’s remarks

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, a day after he landed in Japan to seek investments in the state, condemned the violence at Maruti Suzuki’s Manesar plant.
“Anywhere it should not happen. Human safety is the priority and I do feel (for) those who have lost their lives,” he told reporters in Japan, amidst speculation that Suzuki is going to open another plant in Gujarat.

Modi was of the view that the Haryana government was competent enough to tackle workers problems.Denying that the Gujarat government is snatching business opportunity from Haryana, the BJP spokesperson told reporters here that “the party never believed in taking away from one state to give it to the other.”

Unrest may impact investment: CII

Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) president Adi Godrej  has condemned the recent violence at the Maruti Suzuki plant at Manesar which resulted in the death of senior company official Awanish Kumar Dev..Godrej said the violence would have an impact on investment..“The CII fears that this unfortunate event will make a dent in the country’s image which might impact investors’ impressions about India in terms of safety of investments,” a release by the chamber quoting Godrej said. He urged the Haryana government to quickly investigate into the matter and punish all those responsible for the incident.