Monday, January 31 2005 14:21 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Ambala: Hitting out at the Om Prakash Chautala Government, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today (Jan 31, 2005) asked the people of Haryana to free the state from a "corrupt" Government and elect a party that would rule both State as well as the Centre.

Campaigning for Congress party, his first election meeting on the current round of elections in three States, he said that people should vote for Congress if they desired to end corruption, improve deteriorating law and order situation and tackle issues like unemployment and education and give a better deal to the farmers.

"If Haryana people want to end corruption, improve law and order situation and welfare of farmers, Congress' hands should be strengthened. It is in the interest of the people if the same party ruled both at the Centre and the State," Singh said.

Cautioning the people against forces, which were trying to divide the country on communal lines, he said that the Congress did not divide people on the basis of caste or religion.

"If Congress is elected, which I am sure will be the outcome of the Assembly polls, the party will work for the welfare of the farmers," the Prime Minister said.

He also criticised the State Government for the setback in the field of education in the last five years.