CHANDIGARH: Former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition in Haryana Bhupinder Singh Hooda has said on Tuesday that the BJP-JJP government has started driving the state in the reverse gear now.
He said that Haryana was number one in per capita income, per capita investment, employment generation and development in 2014 but the BJP has made it number one in unemployment, corruption and crime.
Addressing a press conference along with Congress state president Chaudhary Udaybhan, Hooda said the government is weakening the Panchayati Raj system by enforcing the e-tendering on sarpanches.
"The government's negative attitude towards panchayats and villages became evident when it repeatedly postponed elections. Eventually elections were held on the orders of the court and the sarpanch was elected by the votes of the public. But now the government does not want to allow them to work. So they were caught in the web of e-tendering. Similarly, PRI grants are also not being given for the last 2 years," he said.
The Leader of Opposition also accused the government of dividing the education system. He said that there is a shortage of teachers in schools as well as in colleges. More than half of the 4500 posts are lying vacant in about 8000 sanctioned posts in state colleges.
He demanded quick and transparent recruitment on the vacant posts. He said the High Court has once again exposed the fake transparency of this government. The recruitment of Junior Draftsman in the Country and Planning Department has been proved rigged. Therefore, the court has imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh on HSSC. Government cannot blame the recruitment scams only on HSSC or HPSC. Such big and repeated scams are not possible without the patronage of the government.
Hooda demanded compensation for the mustard farmers who were facing the brunt of the weather. “Up to 60% of the mustard crop has been damaged due to frost. But till now no step has been taken by the government for special Girdawari and compensation,” he said and once again demanded the government to increase the rate of sugarcane. He said that after coming to power, the BJP put a brake on the efforts that the Congress government had started to give fair rates to the farmers for their crops.
"The Congress increased the rate of sugarcane from Rs 117 to Rs 310 per quintal during its tenure. During this, the rate increased by 165% i.e. 17% every year. But BJP has increased only 17% in its total tenure of 8 and a half years till now. Means the increase of 1 year of Congress and 8 years of BJP is equal," he said.
Hooda demanded an impartial inquiry into the allegations leveled by the wrestlers against the wrestling association and its president. He said that the wrestling federation president dragged his and Deepender's names in the case to divert attention from the allegations against him. After legal advice and consultation, a case of defamation will be considered against him. He also demanded a fair inquiry into the allegations leveled against the sports minister of the state. He said that this investigation is not possible while holding the post of minister. Therefore, on the basis of morality, he should resign from his post.
The former chief minister reiterated that the coalition government had imposed Parivar Pehchan Patra and property ID on the public to harass them. While the confidentiality of the data collected through it was not ensured. The government should ensure that there should be no political use or misuse of this data. Hooda said that through PPP and Property ID, the government did nothing except promoting corruption. PPP and property ID will be closed when the Congress government is formed.
Earlier, Chaudhary Udaybhan gave detailed information about Hath se Hath Jodo campaign to the journalists. He said that Bharat Joda Yatra was a historic success in Haryana. In spite of the severe cold, the Yatra turned out to be crowded everywhere and lakhs of people registered their presence in the Panipat rally. For this, he thanks the people of the state.
Chaudhary Udaybhan told that now Congress is going to run 'Hath Se Hath Jodo' campaign in Haryana from January 26. Regarding this, there will be a meeting of the party in the state office on January 25 at 2 pm. All senior Congress leaders including MPs, MLAs, former MLAs will be present in the meeting. This campaign will run for 2 months. He told that under this campaign Congress will go to booth, block, village and district. 1-1 district level program will be organized in every district.
He also referred to the charge sheet prepared by the Congress on the misdeeds of the BJP. He told that the Congress will take this charge sheet to every house and every person under the Hath Se Hath Jodo campaign.
