With an eye on Assembly polls and next year’s lok Sabha elections, Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Sunday announced a number of sops and also launched a scathing attack on BJP for its attempts to form a coalition against the Congress in the State.
While addressing Haryana Shakti Rally organised at Gohana in district Sonipat, Hooda said that BJP was undecided over the issue of having political alliance. First, the BJP had joined hands with Chaudhary Devi lal and later on, had an alliance with Chaudhary Bansi lal in the State, but both broke apart.
Taking a swipe at the alliance to be formed by BJP in Haryana, he said that now even the BJP was in a dilemma with whom to forge an alliance with and which way to go. The Chief Minister said some political parties tried to have political alliance for Assembly elections. It is not for the benefit of the people, but for their own vested interests.
The rally in Gohana marked the completion of the Congress Government’s ninth consecutive year in office in Haryana. Haryana Chief Minister also took strong exception to his political detractors and those indulged in politics of alliance in the State stating that political alliance in Haryana was possible only between him and the people as well as the Congress and the people of the State.
Union Minister for Social Justice and Welfare Kumari Selja, Rajya Sabha MP Birender Singh and Gurgaon lok Sabha MP Rao Inderjit Singh, all three of whom have been critical of Hooda Government, remained absent from the rally. While describing the youth as future custodian of the country, Hooda urged in-charge Haryana party affairs Shakeel Ahmad to recommend giving 50 per cent tickets to the youth so as to enable them contest elections.
Hooda also announced a bonanza of incentives for all sections of the society, including enhancement in old age allowance and widow and as well as handicapped pension to Rs 1,000 per month and minimum daily wages, implementation of new schemes for farmers and agriculture labourer, livestock, one-time settlement scheme for cooperative loans and enactment of new legislation for those operating rehri/fadi.
During the rally, he also announced incentives for traders, employees, teachers, students and minority communities as well as weaker sections of the society. While announcing new schemes, he said that Mukhyamantri Kisan evm Khetihar Majdur Jeewan Suraksha Yojna would be implemented under which financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh would be given to the wife and dependent children of farmer or agricultural labourer in case of their death during work.
He said that another scheme known as Mukhyamantri Dudharu Pashu Suraksha Yojna would be implemented to give a financial assistance ranging from Rs 20,000 to Rs 50,000 in case of death of a milch cattle. Hooda also announced to set up special cells to redress the grievances of members belonging to Scheduled Castes and ensure their security. These cells would be set up at every police station, district level and State level.
He added the government has also decided to provide free to and fro bus travel facility to girl students of schools and colleges. Hooda said that with a view to make the Government officials responsive, it has been decided to enact Jawabdehi Kanun.