Haryana Congress to corner govt over DAP shortage in Assembly

Former Chief Minister and Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda has said the hollowness of the claims made by the BJP government in Haryana had been exposed in just one month.

“The government has failed to provide fertiliser required by farmers and ensure the provision of MSP for their produce," Hooda said while addressing mediapersons at Rohtak on Saturday. He further said less than 50 per cent of the required DAP had reached the districts and the fertiliser was being given to farmers at police stations.

Even MSP not being ensured

The government has failed to provide fertiliser required by farmers and ensure the provision of MSP for their produce... the paddy produce is being sold at prices which are Rs 300-400 less than the MSP... both these issues would be raised prominently by the Congress in the upcoming Assembly session. - Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Former Chief Minister

"At the same time, the paddy produce is being sold at prices which are Rs 300-400 less than the MSP," he stated, adding that both these issues would be raised prominently by the Congress in the upcoming Assembly session.

Hooda said the BJP had not been able to manage the fertiliser properly even in 10 years. “The Agriculture Minister is repeatedly stating that there is no shortage of fertilisers. If there is no shortage, then why are farmers standing in queues all night? Why is fertiliser being distributed at police stations? Why do women have to leave their homes and come to get fertiliser?” he said.

In response to a question, the former Chief Minister said the burning of crop residue is not completely responsible for air pollution. “Stubble management is a big challenge for small farmers. It is the duty of the government to buy it at MSP and make fertiliser, electricity and other products from it,” he stated.

Hooda quipped that even the defeated BJP leaders were commenting on the defeat suffered by the Congress. "Such BJP leaders should stop worrying about the Congress, and review the reasons behind their own defeat," Hooda maintained. Showing a viral video to the mediapersons, Hooda alleged that the BJP had openly distributed money in the elections. The former Chief Minister said the Congress had formed a committee under the chairmanship of Karan Singh Dalal to ascertain the reasons behind its defeat, adding that the committee would give its report soon.

He said meetings of Congress workers would be called in all constituencies to boost their morale after the harvest time.  “We have lost the election, but the battle is on. We will continue to fight for people’s issues in the state,” the Congress leader asserted.

Questioned about the appointment of the Leader of Opposition, Hooda said the Congress MLAs had shared their choice(s) with the party high command. “The party leadership is likely to take a decision regarding the matter after the Maharashtra elections. Till then, all 37 MLAs of the Congress in the Assembly will raise their voices regarding the problems of the state,” he maintained.