Congress Leader Deepender Hooda Slams BJP Govt in Haryana as Anti-SC, Alleges MGNREGA Sabotage

In a scathing critique, Rohtak MP and senior Congress leader Deepender Singh Hooda on Tuesday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Haryana of being anti-Scheduled Castes and systematically undermining public welfare schemes. Addressing the executive meeting of the Haryana Congress Scheduled Caste department in Jind district, Hooda asserted that the BJP had captured power but was governing by trampling public sentiment, particularly targeting marginalized communities.

Allegations of MGNREGA Weakening and Welfare Failures

Deepender Hooda claimed that the BJP government has deprived Scheduled Castes and other disadvantaged groups of their rights, excluding them from various welfare initiatives. He specifically accused the BJP-led central government of conspiring to weaken and ultimately abolish the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). According to Hooda, while over 8 lakh MGNREGA workers are registered and active in Haryana, only 2,191 families received the full 100 days of employment in the 2024-25 period.

He further alleged that, under the provisions of the Act, the unemployment allowance—meant for workers when employment is not provided on time—has not been paid to a single worker in Haryana over the last five years. The Lok Sabha member accused the BJP of gradually reducing the scheme's budget to phase it out, calling this a deliberate move against rural livelihoods.

Congress Announces Protest and Highlights Broader Issues

In response, Hooda announced that on February 25 (Wednesday), under the call of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and leader of opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, the Congress party will gherao the Haryana legislative assembly in Chandigarh. This protest aims to oppose the alleged conspiracy to end MGNREGA and the deletion of 14 lakh Below Poverty Line (BPL) cards. Earlier in the day, Hooda laid the foundation stone of the Dr B R Ambedkar Bhawan in Radhna village, using the occasion to criticize the state's governance.

He stated that Haryana is facing unprecedented levels of unemployment, corruption, migration, crime, and drug abuse. Hooda questioned the fate of the state's youth, alleging that major projects approved during the Congress tenure—such as an international airport, a rail coach factory, and a defence university—were shifted out of Haryana under BJP rule.

Accusations of Reservation Dilution and Broken Promises

Referring to recruitment through the Haryana Public Service Commission (HPSC), Deepender Hooda alleged that the BJP government is attempting to dilute constitutionally guaranteed reservations for reserved categories through backdoor measures. He cited examples:

In assistant professor recruitment for English, only one out of 60 posts was filled, leaving 59 vacant.
In OSC recruitment, only two out of 60 posts were filled.
In PGT Computer Science, 342 SC posts remained vacant.

He claimed that imposing a 35% qualifying condition and marking candidates as "not found suitable" has resulted in 60-70 seats being left vacant in every recruitment cycle, whereas previous Congress governments cleared backlog vacancies.

Hooda also reminded the public that the BJP made several unfulfilled promises before elections, including providing 100-square-yard plots, Rs 2,100 financial assistance to every woman, and pensions for the elderly. In contrast, he highlighted that during the Congress government:

Four lakh families received 100-square-yard plots.
3.5 lakh families received houses under the Indira Awas Yojana.
Thousands of rural watchmen and sanitation workers were recruited.

Criticism of Education and Constitutional Safeguards

The Congress leader added that scholarships were provided to 20 lakh SC and BC students from Class 1 to 12 under Congress rule, but the BJP government not only stopped these scholarships but also closed around 5,000 schools. He said the Congress government constituted the SC Commission, which he alleged the BJP later dissolved.

Deepender Hooda highlighted that during the Congress tenure, the first National Law University of north India was established in 2010 at Sonipat in the name of Dr B R Ambedkar in Rajiv Gandhi Education City. Criticizing the BJP's Deendayal Upadhyaya low-cost housing scheme, he accused BJP ministers and MLAs of carving out colonies in Haryana's cities while the public continues to suffer.

Election References and Constitutional Commitment

Further accusing the BJP of misusing money power and divisive tactics to gain power, Hooda alleged attempts are being made to divide society. Referring to the Lok Sabha elections, he claimed that the Congress received 47.6% of the vote share in Haryana and that people rejected the BJP's "400 cross" slogan and attempts to tamper with the Constitution.

In a concluding statement, Hooda declared, "Long live the Constitution—it was, is, and will remain," adding that the Constitution signed by Dr B R Ambedkar and his late grandfather, Ranbir Singh Hooda, would not be allowed to be altered even an inch.