Hooda Highlights Haryana's debt has ballooned to Rs 4.5 lakh crore under the BJP's watch

In a scathing critique of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Haryana, former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda has raised alarming concerns about the state's fiscal health and overall development. Speaking at a public meeting in Charkhi Dadri, Hooda painted a stark contrast between his tenure and the current administration, highlighting a staggering increase in state debt coupled with what he describes as a "grinding halt" in developmental activities. 

Hooda, a prominent Congress leader, revealed that Haryana's debt has ballooned to a whopping Rs 4.5 lakh crore under the BJP's watch. This figure stands in sharp contrast to the Rs 70,000 crore debt left by his administration in 2014, despite significant infrastructural developments during his tenure. "We set up five new power plants, brought Metro and new railway lines, and established universities," Hooda reminded the audience, emphasizing the tangible progress made during his leadership. 

The former Chief Minister didn't hold back in his criticism of the current government's performance. He pointed out that despite the astronomical increase in debt, there has been little to show in terms of new infrastructure or development projects. This lack of visible progress, coupled with the financial burden, has raised serious questions about the fiscal prudence and priorities of the BJP government. 

Hooda's attack extended beyond financial management to encompass broader issues affecting the state. He claimed that Haryana, once a leader in various national parameters including per capita investment, job creation, sports, and law and order, has now slipped to alarming lows. "Now, Haryana has become No. 1 in unemployment, poor law and order, and inflation," Hooda stated, painting a grim picture of the state's current situation.

The Congress leader also touched upon sensitive issues that have been making headlines. He criticized the government's handling of farmer protests, alleging that the BJP regime had responded with "lathis, canes, and bullets" instead of addressing their concerns. Hooda also brought up the recent protests by women wrestlers, many of whom hail from Charkhi Dadri district, expressing solidarity with their cause and condemning the government's response. 

In his address, Hooda didn't shy away from discussing the plight of the youth and sports persons in the state. He criticized initiatives like the Kaushal Nigam and Agniveer schemes, describing them as mere "contract systems" that fail to provide stable employment. The former Chief Minister expressed concern over what he perceives as neglect of sportspersons under the current administration, linking it to an alleged increase in drug addiction among the youth.

As the state gears up for upcoming Assembly elections, Hooda's speech seemed designed to draw clear battle lines. He urged the people of Haryana to compare the performance of the Congress government during his 10-year tenure with that of the BJP's decade in power, and to vote based on this assessment. 

Adding weight to Hooda's claims, Haryana Congress president Udai Bhan expressed confidence in the BJP's impending defeat in the Assembly elections. Bhan suggested that the ruling party's recent acknowledgment of flaws in its flagship schemes like Family ID and Property ID was a sign of its weakening position. 

As the political temperature rises in Haryana, Hooda's strong words and the Congress party's aggressive stance signal an intensifying battle for public opinion. With issues ranging from fiscal management to farmer welfare and youth unemployment at the forefront, the stage is set for a heated electoral contest in the state.