State govt failed to provide MSP, relief to farmers: Ex-CM Hooda

Former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Sunday alleged that the BJP government in Haryana has failed to meet public expectations in all areas. “Farmers are struggling over fair prices for their crops and the general public is facing safety issues,” said Hooda while interacting with mediapersons in Karnal city while attending a social programme.

Responding to questions, he said the BJP government, which claimed to provide MSP for 24 crops, was now hiding its face. “In Haryana, kharif crops, including paddy, millet, cotton and green gram, are being sold at prices ranging from Rs 300 to 1,200 below the MSP,” he said.

“We are repeatedly asking the government which 24 crops in Haryana are receiving MSP? The crops that are reaching the markets from the fields are not receiving MSP. Anyone can go to the market and see the truth,” he pointed out.

The former CM said the government had complicated the processes from selling crops to receiving compensation to such an extent that the farmers were left entangled in the se. “The farmers neither receive a fair price nor compensation. However, as in previous years, there is a scramble for fertilizer for sowing the rabi crop. There are even reports of lathi-charge on farmers and women in many places,” he said.

Commenting on the law and order situation in the state, Hooda said Haryana had become the most unsafe state in the country. “The Central Government reports and statistics confirmed this. Organised crime is at its peak in Haryana. More than 80 gangs of criminals are active here, committing crimes such as murder, robbery, dacoity and extortion,” he said.

“The situation is so bad that even police personnel protecting the law are losing their lives. An impartial investigation should be conducted by the CBI under the supervision of a sitting High Court judge into the deaths of IPS Puran Kumar and Sandeep Lathar,” he demanded.

Hooda also responded to the controversial remarks made by Union Minister for Power Manohar Lal Khattar on Dr BR Ambedkar. “No one should have any doubt that the Constitution of the country was drafted by Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar. I am proud that my father, Chaudhary Ranbir Singh Hooda, was a member of the Constituent Assembly, of which Dr Ambedkar was the Chairman. No one should make cheap remarks about Dr Ambedkar,” he stated.

He also demanded judicial probe into two suicide cases involving IPS Y Puran Kumar and ASI Sandeep from a sitting judge of High Court.