BJP’s ‘triple-engine’ govt has only back gear: Hooda

Taking a jibe at Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini’s claim of having a “triple-engine government” after the BJP’s urban local body poll victory, former CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda today said the government’s engine has “only back gear” and has pushed the state into a debt trap.

Advertisement

Speaking during the Budget discussion in the Haryana Vidhan Sabha, Hooda claimed that after factoring in internal debt, liabilities of public sector undertakings, outstanding dues of power distribution companies and public account deposits, the state’s actual liability surpasses Rs 5 lakh crore.

Hooda highlighted that Rs 62,319 crore will be spent just on repaying previous loans — Rs 35,788 crore for principal repayment and Rs 26,531 crore for interest. After taking fresh loans, the government would be left with only Rs 10,212 crore in hand.

“The government’s revenue receipts for 2025-26 are projected at Rs 1.27 lakh crore, while revenue expenditure stands at Rs 1.48 lakh crore. Of this, Rs 1.09 lakh crore — 85.8% of revenue — will go towards salaries, pensions, debt and interest payments,” he pointed out.

“The revenue deficit is Rs 20,600 crore, meaning the state isn’t even generating enough to cover daily expenses,” Hooda added.

Quoting a CAG report on state revenue (2021-22), Hooda claimed that a loss of Rs 1,103.94 crore had been detected in sales tax, VAT, state excise duty, stamp duty and registration fees.

Regarding capital expenditure, Hooda noted that Rs 16,000 crore had been allocated, but after adjustments, the government would have only Rs 11,000 crore left for infrastructure projects. “You need to build colleges, universities and medical colleges within this amount,” he remarked.

Challenging Treasury Bench members who interrupted him, Hooda said, “If my figures are wrong, issue a white paper on state finances.”

Comparing his tenure (2005-2014) with the BJP’s rule, Hooda said, “During 2005-2014/15, the growth rate was 17.6% whereas during 2014-2024/25, the growth rate was 10.6%.” He added, “Debt growth was 13.01% annually from 2005-06 to 2014-15 but it has surged to 18.01% per year since 2014-15. The debt-to-GSDP ratio was 24.1% in 2005-06, which Congress reduced to 14.6% by 2014-15, but the BJP has increased it back to 26.3% by 2025-26.”

Hooda criticised the ‘Lado Laxmi Yojana’, where women aged 18-60 years will receive Rs 2,100 per month, arguing that only Rs 5,000 crore had been earmarked. “There are over 82 lakh women in Haryana, meaning 75% are being left out,” he said.

Mocking the ‘Non-Stop Haryana’ slogan, Hooda said, “It’s a full-stop government — non-stop corruption, non-stop crime and non-stop debt.”

Speaking to mediapersons, Hooda also accused the BJP government of using past recruitment of inspectors to divert attention from their failures. “It was during BJP’s tenure that a Haryana Public Service Commission deputy secretary was caught taking crores in bribes. I even read out a chat in the House. But what happened? The investigation went nowhere.”