Ex-CM Hooda raises questions on liquor trade in lockdown

CHANDIGARH: Former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Monday said that irregularities pertaining to liquor sale in Haryana were not limited to just one warehouse, but had larger ramifications.

“The SIT formed to probe the scam should also examine how the sale of liquor was going on in Haryana even though the liquor vends were closed. Who was leading this illegal sale and whose patronage did the perpetrators enjoy?” he asked during an interaction with mediapersons.

The leader of the opposition also asked the state government to withdraw restrictions on paddy cultivation. Hooda said this was a time to fight coronavirus and not raise disputes.

Hooda said he strongly opposed the government’s decision to restrict paddy sowing in 19 blocks. “It is important to worry about groundwater level, but for this, the government should also take effective steps that will help solve the problem. It should restart the Dadupur Nalvi water recharge project and efforts should be made to bring SYL water. A plan should be made to bring water to Hansi-Butana canal and switch to drip irrigation systems,” he added.

HARYANA FORMS PROBE TEAM

Meanwhile, Haryana government on Monday constituted a special inquiry team (SET) headed by ACS, power, TC Gupta to probe the theft of liquor stored in a warehouse at Sonepat’s Kharkhauda. The probe team will submit its report by May 31.