BJP govt has destroyed Haryana, says INLD leader Abhay Singh Chautala

Haryana's main opposition on Sunday accused the Manohar Lal Khattar government of "destroying" the state and cheating people by going back on its promises made before Assembly polls.

"The Chief Minister says they have undertaken Vikas (development), but I will say that they have done Vinash (destruction)," senior INLD leader Abhay Singh Chautala said.

Slamming the first ever BJP government in Haryana led by Khattar, who has been giving details of its "achievements" on completion of one year, he said they have destroyed the state. Hitting out at Khattar government's claims that it had taken various steps to rein in corruption, Chautala, speaking with party leaders Ashok Arora and Rampal Majra, asked "why have they failed to take action on the chargesheet which we submitted to the (then) Governor last year about various acts of ommission and commission of the previous Congress government in the state?"

"I had recently asked Chief Minister about what his government intended to do about the chargesheet and he had assured the members in the state Assembly that his government will get an inquiry done into this. We (INLD) had even said that if we are found wrong on any of the facts which we raised in our chargesheet, then action be taken against us. But one year has passed, they are still dilly dallying the matter, which indicates there is tacit understanding between the Congress and the BJP," he alleged.

Chautala raked up "a mega scam in the making" pertaining to the purchase of 1509 Basmati variety of rice from farmers at the price of general variety rice by government agencies.

"While the purchase rate of this particular variety last year was at Rs 3,300 per quintal, now the government agencies are procuring it at Rs 1,450 per quintal. However, the farmers allege that they are being paid only between Rs 1,200 to Rs 1,300 per quintal. I demand a high level probe by an independent agency into this scam," he said.

Criticising the government over its claims of having taken many pro-farmer decisions, he said, "Immediately after they came to power, there was acute shortage of pesticides (urea). A couple of months back, the government claimed to have made highest ever payment of Rs 1,092 crore for crop damage, but still there are many farmers who have not got any compensation...Farmers including cotton farmers affected by white-fly pest attack have not been adequately compensated," he said.

Chautala also claimed that BJP has gone back on promises in its poll manifesto.

"They promised unemployment allowance to youths and to give Rs 15,000 per month salary to the Safai Karamcharis and equal pay scales to employees at par with Punjab, none of which has been fulfilled. On the contrary, during the past one year, many sections including employees, guest teachers, nursing students, laboratory assistants and other sections have been forced to hit streets as the promises made to them by the BJP have not been fulfilled," he said.

The INLD leader said "no concrete step has been taken to ensure early completion of SYL Canal, which would have helped Haryana get its share of water". He charged the Khattar government with failing to end favouritsm in jobs, "which had ruled roost during previous Congress regime".

On the law and order situation in the state, he alleged that it has worsened ever since present government took over.

While recent incidents at Sunped in Faridabad and Gohana, in which two Dalit children were burnt alive and a Dalit youth died allegedly in police custody, have shaken the state, "there has been a manifold increase in crimes against Dalits and women", he said.

"As many as 100 Dalit families of Bhagana village in Haryana were forced to convert while victims of Mirchpur incident are still living in a state of fear and insecurity," he said.

On the power issue, he stated, "they made tall promises of giving 24-hour power supply to the people, but the truth is that they are fiding it difficult to supply even four hours of power (in rural areas). Moreover, they also burdened the consumers with hiked power rates.

"We give the government time till November 1 to roll back the increased power rates or else we will be forced to hit the streets to protest," he said.

On the rise in rates of pulses, Chautala said, "Recently, huge stocks of pulses were seized from hoarders in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, both of which are ruled by the BJP...pulses, which are selling at around Rs 70 per kg in neighbouring countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh, have shot through the roof in our country and are selling at well above Rs 200 per kg".

"But the government is not worried about common consumers...we only hear about row over beef or some irresponsible statements made by the BJP Ministers, be it at the Centre or Haryana," he said.

On the minimum qualification criteria for various posts of Panchayati Raj institutions, Chautala said, "Today, if a referendum is conducted, 99 per cent people in the state will not favour this".

On Khattar's recent visit to US and Canada to attract investments, he said, "This was just an eyewash. No new investment has come to Haryana".

Meanwhile, Chautala said preparations were underway for INLD's 'Samman Rally' on November 1 in Rohtak, to celebrate the birth anniversary of former Deputy Prime Minister, late Devi Lal. Chautala said among other leaders, they had also invited Patel quota agitation leader Hardik Patel, to participate in the rally.