Hooda Lambasts Haryana BJP Government Over State's Declining Performance
Rohtak: Leader of the Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Monday launched a scathing attack on the BJP government in Haryana, asserting that it has pushed the state into a backward position across all sectors. Addressing a press conference alongside MLAs Raghuvir Singh Kadian and Bharat Bhushan Batra, Hooda presented a grim picture using various official reports and statistics.
Safety and Corruption Concerns Highlighted
Hooda claimed that, according to the Centre's Social Progress Index, Haryana has emerged as the most unsafe state in the country with a score of just 33 points. He further cited the India Justice Report, noting that the ranking of the Haryana Police has plummeted from 8th to 14th over the past five years. "Among the 18 major states, the Haryana Police currently ranks 14th," he stated.
Additionally, Hooda pointed to National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data, revealing a staggering 187% surge in corruption cases over the last three years, which has pushed Haryana to the 6th position nationwide in terms of corruption.
Education and Happiness Index Woes
The former Chief Minister also criticized the state's performance in education and well-being. He highlighted that, as per the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) rankings released by the Union Ministry of Education, not a single university from Haryana has managed to secure a spot within the top 100. In the Happiness Index, Haryana ranks a dismal 16th nationwide, underscoring broader societal issues.
Industrial Decline and Unemployment Crisis
Hooda alleged that industries are fleeing Haryana due to the BJP government's flawed policies. He referenced government data indicating that 1,446 factories have either shut down or relocated since 2018-19, leading to a 12.2% decline in the industrial sector over the past five years. "According to 2024 data from the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE), the youth unemployment rate in Haryana stands at nearly 37%, the highest in the country," he emphasized.
Demands for Farmer Support and Procurement Reforms
Turning to agricultural issues, Hooda stated that recent intermittent, unseasonal rains have caused severe damage to wheat and mustard crops. He demanded that the government immediately conduct a special ‘girdawari’ (crop damage assessment) and provide adequate compensation to affected farmers. He also called for streamlining all necessary arrangements for crop procurement.
Hooda accused the BJP government of harassing farmers instead of facilitating them. He criticized new procurement rules that require only registered landholders to bring produce to ‘mandis’, arguing this ignores family dynamics where other members often handle such tasks. "In many instances, the land is registered in the names of women; how are they expected to drive tractors and wait at mandis for days?" he questioned.
He further alleged major scams in potato and paddy procurement, with potatoes being sold at distress prices as low as 50 paise per kg. Hooda remarked that scams are occurring rapidly under the BJP government, with only lower-level employees being implicated while high-ranking officials evade responsibility.
Gas Shortage and Political Allegations
Raising concerns over the nationwide shortage of cooking gas, Hooda questioned why people are queuing up if the government claims there is no shortage. He held the BJP government responsible for the gas shortage in Haryana, noting its failure to provide any clarification on the situation.
Responding to queries about the Rajya Sabha elections, Hooda stated that Congress legislators cast 32 votes in favor of the party, but alleged that the Returning Officer conspired with the BJP to invalidate four votes. He added that the party High Command has initiated disciplinary proceedings against five Congress members who engaged in cross-voting.
On the INLD, Hooda remarked that the party has once again shown it will not oppose the BJP, initially deciding to vote for a BJP-backed candidate but abstaining at the last moment upon realizing a Congress victory was inevitable.
