INLD campaign targets Hooda's 'Gulabi Gang'
When questioned about the logic behind the 'Gulabi Gang' tagline, INLD spokesperson R.S. Chaudhary said the idea came from the pink turbans worn by Chief Minister Hooda and his men.
It's the green 'Tihar Gang' versus pink 'Gulabi Gang' in Haryana.
The Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), which adheres to its green colour code in dresses worn by its leaders, is targeting the ruling Congress's pink (gulabi) used at its events and in dresses of leaders. INLD has launched a social media campaign-Freedom from Golibaaj Gulabi Gang Sarkar- against the Bhupinder Singh Hooda government in the state and is planning a similar campaign for the television. Chief Minister Hooda, on his part, has retaliated by indirectly dubbing INLD as the "Tihar Gang" comprising people who are either in the Tihar Jail or out on bail.
When questioned about the logic behind the 'Gulabi Gang' tagline, INLD spokesperson R.S. Chaudhary said the idea came from the pink turbans worn by Chief Minister Hooda and his men.
"Pink turbans symbolise Hooda and his men. Those who were involved in the controversial land deals, favouritism in jobs and other criminal activities don pink turbans. We have appealed to the people not to vote for the Gulabi Gang," Chaudhary said.
Pink colour is part of the dress code for the Congress party in Haryana; the men don pink turbans and women wear pink dupattas. Moreover, the party paints everything in pink when there is a big event.
INLD's dress code, on the other hand, is green and its workers and leaders put on green-coloured turbans.
With INLD's 'Gulabi Gang' campaign appealing to people in the state, the Congress felt the need to retaliate.
On Sunday, Chief Minister Hooda-who addressed a political rally in Hassanpur, Palwal -tried to establish who the actual gangsters are.
"There is a Tihar Gang? while some of them are in Tihar, a few are out on bail. This gang is trying to grab power in the state," the chief minister said in a veiled attack on INLD leaders.
To target the Hooda government, INLD has been raising issues like controversial land deals, favouritism and corruption at its press meets and through campaign materials.
The party also prepared a 'chargesheet' against the Congress and submitted it to the governor. Serious allegations were raised against Chief Minister Hooda and his family in that 'chargesheet'.
Retaliating, Hooda had threatened to file defamation cases against INLD leaders who had said that a second 'chargesheet' is on the way.