Former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda criticized the trade deal with the US, labeling it as anti-farmer. He expressed concerns that if animal feed imports from America increase, it could harm Indian farmers. Hooda highlighted the disparity in tariffs imposed by the US on India compared to Bangladesh, emphasizing the potential negative impact on cotton farmers.
Hooda further stated that farmers in India are facing unfair treatment under the current government. He pointed out issues such as reduced weight in fertiliser bags without a corresponding decrease in prices. Additionally, he disputed the government’s claim of providing Minimum Support Price (MSP) for 24 crops, stating that Haryana does not cultivate that many crops.
Addressing the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojna, Hooda mentioned that despite generating profits exceeding Rs 2,000 crore, many claims have not been processed, leading to dissatisfaction among farmers. He criticized the slow disbursement of compensations, noting that less than 10% of the claims have been paid out so far.
Regarding pension cuts for senior citizens, Hooda accused the government of inconsistency, highlighting the restoration of 70,000 pensions after initially denying any cuts. He also raised concerns about the cancellation of ration cards issued before elections, alleging voter suppression. Hooda criticized the BJP government for targeting Congress MLAs and failing to maintain law and order in the state.
