CHANDIGARH:
Haryana former chief minister Bhupinder Singh
Hooda on Saturday promised to bring down VAT on diesel and petrol in the state and increase old-age pension to Rs 3,000 if Congress was voted to power in the assembly elections next year.
Addressing a public meeting on the first day of his Jan Kranti Yatra at Punhana in Mewat, Hooda said the INLD was indulging in “shadow boxing” with BJP and appealed to voters to ensure INLD’s defeat if they wanted BJP out of the state.
Hooda was speaking at the third rally organized as part of his campaign. Hooda promised to cut VAT on diesel by 50%. “When Congress was in power, the state charged 8.24% as VAT. BJP has hiked this to 17.5%,” he said. “The only achievement of this government has been to inaugurate projects initiated by the previous government. The BJP was elected on the promises of Ache Din but everyone — farmers, traders, labourers and government employees — are distressed,” he said.
Hooda said there was power and water shortage in the state. “We set up four thermal power stations in the state to meet growing demand. This government is not generating even one unit of power. The government says it is power surplus, but people have still faced long power cuts this summer,” he said.
Launching a direct attack on the INLD, the former chief minister accused the party of misleading the people once again. “In 1999, INLD promised to take all electricity meters and throw them in village ponds. They promised no electricity meters and no meter readers. They not only forgot about their promise after they were elected, but also fired at people seeking electricity bill waivers in Kandela and Gulkani. The Congress provided a healing touch to farmers in 2005 by waiving electricity bills,” he said.
Attacking the INLD over their Jail Bharo Andolan, he said the INLD and the BJP were in cahoots. “Look at the false fight between them. Will the INLD name one leader or worker who has spent a day in jail,” he said.
Former CM Bhupinder Hooda at a rally in Mewat on Saturday