REWARI: Congress MP Deepender Singh Hooda launched a broad attack on the Haryana government during his visit to Rewari, questioning the government’s claims over the AIIMS project at Majra, development in Gurgaon and south Haryana, the pace of educational infrastructure expansion and the functioning of the state administration.Speaking at a programme at Jat Dharamshala and later interacting with Congress workers, Hooda said the people of Manethi and surrounding villages had fought for years for the AIIMS project and that the contribution of local residents should not be overlooked while political leaders claim credit for the project.The Union Cabinet had approved the establishment of a new AIIMS at Manethi in Rewari in February 2019.Subsequently, 200 acres and 2 kanal 16 marla of land at Majra Mustil Bhalkhi in Rewari were handed over by the Haryana government to the Union health ministry for construction.The Centre’s official record says pre-investment activities had begun and the project had an approved revised cost of Rs 1,374 crore.Hooda said the AIIMS issue was not merely about political credit but also about recognising the prolonged struggle by villagers.He recalled that residents of Manethi and neighbouring villages had participated in a long campaign for the project and said he too had been associated with the agitation.He compared the AIIMS movement with the farmers’ agitation, saying the struggle for the hospital had continued for several years.The AIIMS project has also had a long history of land-related developments. In 2020, farmers in Manethi had agreed to provide land for the project after discussions with the administration, according to contemporary reports.Linking the AIIMS issue with the wider development of the National Capital Region, Hooda questioned the Haryana government over development in Gurgaon.He said the government should tell people and the media what work had actually been carried out in Gurgaon in the name of development.He argued that political claims about the development of south Haryana should be assessed against work visible on the ground, including in Gurgoan and other parts of the region.Hooda said development should not be measured merely by announcements or by claiming credit for projects, but by the work actually completed on the ground.Hooda also raised the issue of the proposed college at Ramgarh-Bhagwanpur. He questioned why construction had not started despite the announcement of the college and said that after a government announcement, work should become visible on the ground.He also raised broader questions about educational infrastructure in south Haryana.Hooda claimed that during his tenure, five colleges, six ITIs, two polytechnics, an engineering college, a university, an extension centre of an agricultural university and a regional centre of a women’s university were established in the region.He asked the present government to provide details of new colleges, ITIs, polytechnics and schools constructed during its tenure.The Haryana government, meanwhile, has continued to announce and review higher-education projects.In June 2026, Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini reviewed the state’s five-year higher-education roadmap and said officials were monitoring ongoing projects and announcements, including educational infrastructure in Rewari and other southern Haryana districts.Hooda said issues relating to education and examination systems should not be viewed merely through a political lens because they directly affect the future of young people and the next generation.He said the government should be answerable for the condition of the education system and the examination process, arguing that weaknesses in these areas can have a direct bearing on the future prospects of students.Taking a dig at Saini’s political activities outside Haryana, Hooda said the chief minister’s primary responsibility was to focus on the interests of Haryana’s people and the development of the state. He alleged that Saini appeared more occupied with campaigning and political activities.Hooda also made a sarcastic reference to chief ministers wearing different regional symbols, saying that after a “gamcha CM” in Bihar and a “pagdi CM” in Haryana, there could be a “topi CM” in Himachal Pradesh.His criticism came amid a series of attacks by Hooda on Saini over the chief minister’s political campaigning in neighbouring states.In a separate meeting earlier this week, Hooda had also accused Saini of making promises in Punjab while failing to fulfil promises in Haryana.Hooda also levelled allegations of corruption against the BJP government in Haryana.He claimed that people in the state were troubled by the existing system and alleged that several BJP representatives were more interested in developing colonies than addressing public concerns.These were allegations made by Hooda in his political address; the material available for this report does not contain a response from the Haryana government to these specific allegations.At the workers’ conference, Hooda called upon Congress workers to strengthen the party organisation and reach out to people to raise questions about government policies.He urged party workers to go among the people and highlight issues concerning development, education, employment and public services.Congress leaders and workers, including party state in-charge Sanjay Dutt, state president Narendra Yadav and former MLA Chiranjiv Rao, were present at the programme, according to the material from the event.
