New Delhi: Ahead of the 2019 Haryana state elections, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, who has been chief minister twice and an MP 4 times, spoke about his political aspirations and future governance plans.
Hooda is seeking re-election from his home constituency Garhi Sampla-Kiloi in Rohtak district.
Here are the highlights:
Q1. This is a make or break election for you. How confident are you that Congress will come back to power in Haryana?
A1. Every election is important. I have been touring the state and have organised conclaves for farmers, Dalits, and traders over the past months. They all want to support the Congress this time. Though our party organisation needed strengthening, the workers are excited. We will form the next government in Haryana.
Q2. The Assembly elections are coming just months after the 2019 Lok Sabha polls in which the Congress lost all the 10 parliamentary seats in Haryana. How do you explain that?
A2. The Lok Sabha election was not an isolated poll. Entire North India was affected by a trend. But let me tell you that state polls are different from national elections and performance of state government and local issues would matter more in assembly polls as Parliament issues are different.
Q3. The Haryana Congress has been suffering from internal conflicts for many years. Former state unit president Ashok Tanwar recently resigned alleging faulty ticket distribution. Is the new team united?
A3. Yes, there are no differences between us. Those who have resigned have left are no more here so why talk about them. We are all together including the new state unit chief Selja Kumari.
Q4. Are you the potential Congress chief ministerial candidate in Haryana?
A4. When I became chief minister in 2005, nobody was sure who would be the CM. A national party declares a face only if there is a sitting chief minister. The elected party MLAs and the high command will decide on who would be the CM. But if I am asked to take up the responsibility, I will do my best.
Q5. What are the three main planks on which you are asking people to vote for the Congress?
A5. In the last assembly polls in 2014, the BJP made 154 promises but did not fulfill any. The voters are now comparing the failure of the Khattar government and the achievements of the past Congress regimes. During our times, the farmers were happy. This government did nothing for the poor while we gave them plots. The cost of agricultural production is up, the margin has reduced and MSP is not being given to farmers. They promised Punjab's pay scales to Haryana government staff but the allocation of Rs 6,000 cr to implement the Seventh pay commission recommendations for HRA is still pending. Law and order situation has worsened in the past five years. Every day three murders and five rapes are reported in Haryana besides several dacoity incidents.
Q6. What do you think happened to the BJP’s promised development agenda?
A6. The state was number one in per capita investment but is now number one in unemployment. BJP is good only at event management. The state government organised an event in Gurugram for the NRIs. I am told their airfare and hotel bills were paid by the administration. During the summit investments worth Rs 6 lakh crore were promised but not even four per cent of that has come. The unemployment rate which was 2.8 per cent in our times has shot up to 28 per cent.
Q7. Coming to finances, your party has promised a lot of doles in the form of 33 per cent job reservation for women, unemployment allowances and scholarships for poor students to woo the voters but how will you foot the bill in case the Congress comes to power?
A7. We have promised only what we can do. We have done similar things in the past.
Q8. Is this assembly election a BS Hooda vs ML Khattar contest or you are fighting the BJP central leadership as well?
A8. I never attack individuals. I only questioned the Khattar government’s policies. The main issue to address in the state right now is- jobs. And for that, we have to bring investments and industries. The investment will come only if the law and order in the state improve. Agriculture too is on the verge of breaking down and the plight of farmers has become worse. These areas will be our priority.
Q9. You recently surprised many within the Congress by going against the party line by supporting the removal of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir. Any comments?
A9. There are many soldiers in the armed forces from my state. So what I said was keeping in mind their sentiments. Moreover, my party is very democratic and the issue is no more relevant now as parliament had approved the removal of Article 370.
Q10. You are facing anti-corruption charges from central agencies. Is this part of a malicious campaign?
A10. The matter is sub judice, so it is not appropriate for me to comment. I have full faith in the judiciary. I am confident that the truth will come out. Nothing wrong had been done during my governance.
