Khattar shown black flags during road show in Kalka
PANCHKULA: Members of HMT Sangharsh Samiti, along with residents of Pinjore-Kalka urban complex, showed black flags to Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Thursday, while raising slogans against him during a protest against setting up of an apple mandi in Pinjore. The CM was here for a road show to boost the BJP cadre in Kalka assembly segment.
The CM laid the foundation stone for the apple and vegetable mandi to be set up on over 75 acres land of HMT, Pinjore, at a cost of ₹100 crore.
In June this year, the government started the process for transfer of about 446 acres of land of shut tractor unit of the HMT at Pinjore.
Vijay Bansal, convener, HMT Sangharsh Samiti, said, “The government promised to establish a bigger unit than the present, but it is shameful that the government has announced to establish an apple market instead of reviving an engineering industry,” he said.
As per the plan, ₹10.27 crore has been released for the work of apple mandi in the initial phase. During the road show, Khattar also announced a grant of ₹30 crore for the development of urban and rural areas in Kalka. The CM also inaugurated the public meeting and road show after offering prayers at Kali Mata Temple in Kalka.
Khattar said, “The budget of the state was ₹61,000 crore in 2014-15, which has been increased by 90% in the fourth year. Next year, it will be more than double. There is no shortage of budget for development works,” he said.
On the upcoming apple Mandi, Khattar said that apart from locals, the gardeners and farmers of Himachal Pradesh will also benefit from the mandi. “Their dependence on the Azadpur Mandi in Delhi will reduce. Also, thousands of youth will get employment from this mandi,” he added.
AAP TOO STAGES PROTEST
Meanwhile, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) also staged a protest against laying the foundation stone of the mandi.
The AAP workers were led by party’s district head Yogeshwar Sharma. The protesters also burnt an effigy of Khattar and raised slogans against the BJP. “BJP’s schemes are only meant to benefit capitalists. They have never thought about the common people,” Sharma said.
He criticised the state government for not conceiving any plan to set up small industries here to provide jobs to workers who lost their jobs on account of closure of HMT.
The CM was welcomed by residents, RSS and BJP workers at several places. They raised slogans in favour of the party.
Khattar was accompanied by MP Rattan Lal Kataria, urban local bodies minister Kavita Jain, MLA Gian Chand Gupta, MLA Latika Sharma, BJP district president Deepak Sharma.