BJP has failed on each of its 154 poll promises: Bhupinder Singh Hooda

They had promised to pay farmers on the recommendation of the Swaminathan Commission. However, they are not giving them the MSPs, let alone paying them according to the commission's recommendations

After being voted out of power in 2014, the Congress party’s decline has been steady in Haryana. But all is not lost believes former two-time chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda. In an interview with Nitin Kumar, he points out the failures of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government, his own party’s achievements, farm distress in the state and more. Edited excerpts:

You have been saying that the Congress has a good chance in the upcoming Assembly elections. What makes you so confident? 

People will consider the failures of the BJP government and the achievements of the previous Congress regimes when they go to vote. The BJP came to power in 2014 by making tall promises — a whopping 154 — in the 2014 election manifesto. Not a single one has been fulfilled. For example, they had promised to pay farmers on the recommendation of the Swaminathan Commission. However, they are not giving them the minimum support prices (MSPs), let alone paying them according to the commission’s recommendations. 

They have fixed a cap on buying farm produce per acre. Where do the farmers sell their extra produce? Moreover, they have increased the cost of production and reduced their income. The fertiliser bag, which cost Rs 800 during our tenure, is available at Rs 1,400 now. The pesticide spray, which used to cost farmers Rs 200 earlier, now comes at Rs 1,000. They have levied taxes on fertilisers, pesticides, tractor parts, etc. During our regime, diesel in Haryana was available at the cheapest rate, we had reduced the VAT, but the present government has doubled the VAT. These are the reasons for farmers being in debt today. Every sector is in crisis, be it agriculture, manufacturing, or labour.

For scheduled castes and the poor, we sanctioned 382,000 developed plots and one million water connections with water tankers of 200 litres. This government has not allotted a single plot or water connection in the last five years.

Same is the case with government employees: They have not fully implemented the Seventh Pay Commission. They have not paid HRA amounting to over Rs 6,000 crore. Forget their promise of paying state government employees on a par with their counterparts in Punjab.

Today, the law and order situation is at its worst in Haryana. In 2014, Haryana was number one in India in per capita investment and income, while today it is number one in unemployment and crime.

You mentioned economic slowdown in every sector. How do you plan to revive these sectors and bring back the state’s economy on track?

We had improved the state’s economy before and we can do that again. We will bring investments, unlike the BJP, which is an expert in event management. They just make announcements, but don’t perform. This is a non-performing government.

The unemployment rate is at its highest in 45 years, according to the NSSO report. And Haryana’s unemployment rate is the highest at 28.7 per cent. The BJP in its manifesto promised to provide skill training with an outlay of Rs 500 crore to 2.5 million youth. How do you see this?

In 2012, the unemployment rate was 2.8 per cent, now it is 28.7 per cent. Before promising these new policies, they should fulfil their 2014 promises. They had said they will provide 24-hour electricity, employment to the youth, MSP to farmers -- where are they? They have not even fulfilled their 2014 promises. How can they make more promises? They are merely fooling the people.

You are accusing the government of giving jobs to the youth from other states, while the BJP is saying no candidate from outside has been selected beyond the ‘other states’ quota.

We are not accusing the government without proof. We have received this information through RTIs. The government is lying to the people of Haryana.

The state’s total debt has risen from Rs 76,263 crore in 2013-14 to Rs 1.64 trillion in 2017-18. In your manifesto, you have promised to waive farmers’ loans in 24 hours. How will you manage this?

When I presented the Budget in 2014, the debt was Rs 60,000 crore. In the 2015 report, it was approximately Rs 70,000 crore for 2013-14, in which the Congress was in power till October. Now, it has reached nearly Rs 1.7 trillion. Their only achievement is the huge debt on the state.

We brought investment and development to Haryana. We constructed four thermal plants to meet the state’s power demand. We constructed railway lines across the state. Metro lines were constructed to meet commuter demands. The BJP government has not expanded even an inch of the metro rail lines. Not a single unit of power production has been added in the past five years.

Not a single educational institute of national importance was established by them. On the contrary, we introduced IIM, AIIMS, NIFTEM, NID in Haryana. We gave the state the best institutes of this country.

We have fulfilled what we promised. We know how to bring resources in the state. There are multiple scams across departments like roadways and mining (quarrying and sand mining) in the state and money for development projects is being subsumed by BJP politicians. Why then, have these not been investigated? These are also not debated today. Are they not in public domain?

These matters are now in public domain, but the government is not ordering any inquiry into this. We have asked them several times in the Assembly and on various other platforms to initiate a CBI investigation, but no action has been taken. The issue has reached the Supreme Court.

If the Congress is voted to power, will you take up these issues on a priority basis?

I have never believed in any form of political vendetta in the 10 years when I was the chief minister. And I will never practice such politics even in future. Law will take its own course against those who are found guilty.

The political narrative has reached its nadir. Recently, Manohar Lal Khattar called Sonia Gandhi a “mari hui chuhiya” (dead rat).

I never make such personal remarks against anybody. Someone holding such an important position (as that of the chief minister) should speak with utmost responsibility.

Do you think that the BJP’s victory in the mayoral polls, Jind by-poll, and the recent Lok Sabha election will have any impact on the outcome of the Assembly election?

The Congress did not contest the mayoral polls; the BJP was alone in the fray. Besides, the party in power usually wins by-polls, this is nothing new. The Congress won all the by-polls during its rule. So, the Jind bypoll victory is insignificant.

How do you judge the BJP government’s performance in the state?

The BJP government in Haryana is a total failure. It is a non-performing government and the most corrupt.

Will the ex-Haryana Congress president Ashok Tanwar’s resignation affect the Congress’ prospects in the state?

The party is above an individual.

Twitter: @nitinaayog