Ambala, June 23, Venod Sharma, president of Haryana Janchetna Party and former Union minister today asked the Union Government to speed up all diplomatic channels to secure the safe release of youth abducted in Iraq.

Former Haryana minister, Venod Sharma (66) who quit the Congress in March before the Lok Sabha elections will soon float a new political outfit. In an interview with Hindustan Times on Sunday, Sharma said he is soon going announce the name of the new outfit.

Ambala, June 23,Former Union minister Venod Sharma, who had resigned from the Congress prior to the Lok Sabha elections, on Sunday accused the Haryana Government of denying Ambala a fair share in development.

AMBALA/CHANDIGARH: Two months after quitting the Congress party and as Ambala city MLA, Venod Sharma on Sunday announced the launch of his own political outfit for assembly elections. "We are in the process of getting the party registered and will make a formal announcement soon," the former Union minister said.

The party, Jan Chetna Party, has a registered office in Ambala. Sources informed Sharma and his party are keen to field candidates from 32 assembly segments of north Haryana.

Once termed as de facto chief minister of Haryana, due to his proximity to CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Sharma began distancing himself from Congress from November last year. He also attacked Hooda and the Congress high command over selection of candidates ahead of Lok Sabha elections. However, he quit the party only this year, announcing his decision at a public meeting in Kurukshetra on March 8.

Initially, he was keen to join HJC but dropped the idea in the face of resistance from BJP. In fact, Sharma was even projected as HJC candidate for Karnal parliamentary constituency.

"No other political party is with me. If any like-minded persons are willing join, they are welcome. I am largely concerned with the development of northern Haryana, especially the area falling in Ambala region. This area has been neglected for long,'' Sharma said.