Former CM lashes out at Khattar Govt, alleges BJP fails to deliver

Launching a scathing attack at the Manohar Lal Khattar Government in Haryana, former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Monday alleged that the State Government has failed to deliver on all fronts and people are eagerly waiting for the polls to teach the party a lesson.

“The BJP Government only make tall claims about development, but there is nothing on the ground to back their claims. In the past, more than three and a half years of its tenure, the government has proved to be a non-performing one,” said Hooda while talking to the mediapersons here.

The two-time former Chief Minister said that be it farmers, employees, youth, elderly, traders… every section of society are fed up with the BJP Government. Law and order has completely broken down in Haryana, he said.

“The Congress will raise the issues of deteriorating law and order situation, farmers’ problems, shortage of water and electricity, non-completion of Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal and scrapped Dadupur Nalvi irrigation project during the upcoming monsoon session of Haryana Assembly, scheduled to begin on September 7,” Hooda said.

He alleged that the State Government has no concern for the farmers’ problems as sugarcane payment arrears to farmers by private sugar mills in Haryana have crossed Rs 200 crore.

The senior Congress leader also criticized the Haryana Government for mismanagement of the state’s economy and huge debt liability.

He said, “In 2013-14, when the Congress was in power, the state debt was just over Rs 60,000 crore which has now crossed Rs 1.61 lakh crore. While the BJP talks about bringing lakh of crores of investment into the state, they should tell how much of this has materialised during their tenure.”

Hooda alleged that the BJP Government has only spent crores of rupees on event management and publicity blitzkrieg.

On Shiromani Akali Dal’s (SAD) announcement to contest the next year’s Lok Sabha and Assembly polls in Haryana alone, the Congress leader said this would not have much impact in the state.

On SYL canal issue, Hooda said that while Congress had always batted for Haryana’s rights on water issue, other parties have only politicised the issue.

He said, “In Haryana’s interests, we are even ready to accompany the Chief Minister if he decides to take a delegation to meet the Prime Minister so as to put pressure on the Centre for early completion of the SYL canal.”

Hooda also slammed the BJP Government for not sending any Minister or officer to welcome the medal winners from the state, who had returned India from Asian Games 2018  being held at Jakarta.

About his 'Jankranti Yatra', Hooda claimed that the Congress is getting overwhelming response during the 'Jankranti Yatra' that he had started earlier this year.

The sixth phase of the Yatra will begin on September 9 from Pehowa in Kurukshetra district.

Replying to a question, Hooda, who is a member of Congress’ Manifesto Committee, said the Congress is ready and fully prepared for the Lok Sabha as well as the Assembly polls.

Issues related to welfare of farmers, women and all sections of society will be included in party’s manifesto, he added.

The former Chief Minister also backed the State Government decision to name some projects after former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Vajpayee was a leader who commanded great respect across all parties. Any scheme or institute could be named after the former Prime Minister and the Congress would have no objection on this. But the BJP should refrain from doing any politics over the issue, Hooda added.