Former Haryana CM Hooda Launches Multi-Pronged Attack on State Government
In a significant political development, former chief minister and Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda has vehemently criticized the recent trade agreement with the United States, labeling it as fundamentally "anti-farmer" and detrimental to agricultural interests in Haryana. Speaking to journalists after attending a social gathering organized by Fatehabad MLA Balwan Singh Daulatpuria, Hooda articulated deep concerns about the potential consequences of this international pact.
Trade Deal Will Devastate Local Farmers, Claims Hooda
The senior Congress leader specifically highlighted the import of animal feed from the United States as a major threat, warning that it would inflict heavy financial losses on Haryana's farming community. He drew attention to what he described as an imbalanced tariff structure, noting that while the United States imposes an 18 percent tariff on Indian goods, it maintains zero tariffs for Bangladesh. This disparity, Hooda asserted, would particularly disadvantage cotton growers and other agricultural producers in the state.
Allegations of Government Mismanagement in Agriculture
Expanding his critique to domestic agricultural policies, Hooda accused the current administration of treating farmers unfairly through various measures. He pointed to the reduction in fertilizer bag weight from 50 kilograms to 40 kilograms while maintaining the same price, effectively increasing costs for farmers. Furthermore, he dismissed the government's claim of providing Minimum Support Price (MSP) for 24 crops as misleading, arguing that Haryana does not even cultivate that many crops.
Regarding the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (Prime Minister's Crop Insurance Scheme), Hooda made serious allegations of mismanagement. He claimed that despite the scheme generating over Rs 2,000 crore in profits, farmers were receiving inadequate compensation for crop losses. "Not even 10 percent of the claims have been paid so far," he alleged, adding that this failure was forcing many farmers to opt out of the insurance program entirely.
Pension Cuts and Ration Card Cancellations
The opposition leader also addressed social welfare issues, questioning the government's contradictory statements about pension restorations. He noted the administration's claim of restoring 70,000 pensions while previously asserting that no pensions had been discontinued. In a more alarming revelation, Hooda alleged that nearly 14 lakh ration cards were cancelled in Haryana following the elections, including 54,000 in Ambala district alone, potentially affecting food security for vulnerable populations.
Deteriorating Law and Order Situation
Shifting focus to public safety, Hooda painted a grim picture of law and order in Haryana, citing rising incidents of extortion, drug abuse, and organized crime. He claimed that 50 to 60 criminal gangs are currently active across the state and emphasized the urgent need to dismantle these networks. As evidence of the deteriorating situation, he referenced a recent murder near the Inspector General's office in Rohtak and alleged that businessmen, doctors, and industrialists are facing extortion threats, with some industries even migrating due to security concerns.
Political Targeting and Future Action
Accusing the BJP-led government of targeting Congress MLAs to divert attention from its failures, Hooda specifically mentioned the recent case involving the Guhla Cheeka MLA, alleging misuse of First Information Reports (FIRs) to silence opposition voices. "Malicious action against elected representatives will not be tolerated," he declared firmly.
Looking ahead, the Leader of Opposition announced that the Congress party plans to bring a special resolution on law and order during the upcoming assembly session, demanding accountability from the government. He contrasted the current situation with the pre-2005 period, claiming that crime syndicates operating from jails were effectively brought under control during the previous Congress regime.
Hooda's comprehensive critique, delivered at the Fatehabad function where he was photographed with supporters, represents a significant political challenge to the ruling administration, touching on economic, agricultural, social welfare, and security concerns that directly impact Haryana's citizens.
