Chandigarh, Oct 25 (UNI) A number of people belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes of Haryana called on Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda's residence here today to express their gratitude for his announcement of giving them free plots.

The announcement was made by the Chief Minister in the Bijli Rally held at Jharli in Jhajjar district in the presence of party president Sonia Gandhi.

The visitors, belonging to All India Scheduled Castes Unity Association, Haryana Branch and Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee Scheduled Castes Cell, said they wanted to thank the Chief Minister for this historic decision earlier, but could not do so because of the Chief Minister's foreign visit.

They said they wanted to host a civic reception for the Chief Minister in this connection.

On their request, the Chief Minister agreed to be present on the occasion of Dr B R Ambedkar Parinirvan Divas to be held on December 6 at Karnal.

The Chief Minister said whenever the poor people and the members belonging to the Scheduled Castes and the Backward Classes were annoyed with the Congress Party it had to face a humiliating defeat in the elections.

He said the people belonging to Scheduled Castes, Backward Classes and the downtrodden were the backbone of the Congress party.

He said it was also a fact that when the opposition parties came to power in the state, these people had to face a number of miseries.

Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee president Phool Chand Mullana also expressed his gratitude towards the Chief Minister for announcing free plots for the members of SC and BC communities.

On this occasion, Health and Social Welfare Minister Kartar Devi, Parliamentary Secretary Dillu Ram, Ms Geeta Bhukkal, Ms Raj Rani Poonam and Mr Hari Ram Valmiki, all MLAs, Political Adviser to Chief Minister, Prof Virender Singh, Media Adviser to Chief Minister, Sunder Pal Singh, OSD to Chief Minister Ravinder Hooda were also present.

UNI