Hindustan Times (Amritsar)

15-odd people eating INLD like termites: Naina Chautala

- Press Trust of India letterschd@hindustant­imes.com

› Tau Devi Lal planted a tree which became INLD, he nurtured it all his life, but some 15odd people have infested it like termites and are eating it. NAINA CHAUTALA, Dabwali MLA

CHANDIGARH: A day after Hisar MP Dushyant Chautala and his brother Digvijay Chautala refused to accept their expulsion from the INLD amid a family feud, their mother and Dabwali MLA Naina Chautala on Sunday attacked their detractors, saying that late Devi Lal nurtured the party but some “15-odd people” are eating it like termites.

“Tau Devi Lal planted the tree which became INLD, he nurtured it all his life, but some 15-odd people have infested it like termites and are eating it,” she said, addressing a gathering of women supporters.

She said both her sons Dushyant and Digvijay, who headed the now disbanded Indian National Students Organisati­on (INSO), were working hard to strengthen the party at grassroots, but some people in the party were not happy with their hardwork and have been trying to sideline them.

“I was shocked and hurt that accusation­s of indiscipli­ne were levelled against my children. They were victimised because some supporters raised slogans in their favour (in an INLD rally). If someone raises slogans in your favour, I don’t think that amounts to indiscipli­ne. Do you think Dushyant and Digvijay are undiscipli­ned?” asked Naina.

“We need to get united for the party to ensure that the INLD comes to power in the state,” she said.

She appealed to the women workers to strengthen the party. “You all must strengthen the party because all is not well in it these days. All is not well in the party for which Tau Devi Lal gave his life. You have to realise the dreams of Devi Lal. You have to strengthen the party for which Om Prakash Chautala ji and Ajay Singh ji made so much contributi­on,” she said.

AJAY, DUSHYANT, DIGVIJAY MEET SUPPORTERS

Meanwhile, Ajay Chautala and Dushyant Chautala met party workers in Rewari and Delhi respective­ly while Digvijay met supporters in Bhiwani on Sunday.

Talking to reporters in Bhiwani, Digvijay Chautala ruled out the possibilit­y of any mediation by Akali Dal patriarch and former Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal to arrest the feud within the INLD and Chautala family.

Digvijay made the remarks, when asked if Ajay Chautala was likely to meet Badal in coming days to seek his mediation to bridge the widening rift within the Chautala family.

“After Devi Lal ji, Badal Sahab is the most respected elder in our family. But the question of mediation does not arise..,” Digvijay said. Badals and Chautalas have shared close family ties over several decades.

On Saturday, Dushyant Chautala had refused to accept his expulsion and that of his brother Digvijay Chautala from the INLD, claiming that the party’s national executive had not met and the sack order was not issued by party president Om Prakash Chautala.

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