Sonipat: Leader of the opposition in the Haryana assembly, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, on Friday questioned why the BJP steps in to respond whenever the Congress raises questions about the Election Commission, alleging that the pattern points to a “nexus” between the ruling party and the poll body.“Whenever Congress raises questions against the Election Commission, why does the BJP come forward to answer? This indicates a deep collusion between the BJP and the Election Commission,” Hooda said while speaking to reporters here.The former Haryana chief minister alleged that the purported nexus had helped the BJP win several elections, including the Haryana assembly poll.Hooda also said senior Congress functionary Rahul Gandhi had raised the issue and presented what he described as evidence.Hooda was in Sonipat to offer condolences to former MLA Surender Panwar following the death of his father, Dalip Singh Pawar. He met members of the bereaved family and paid his respects to the departed.Turning to the long-standing water-sharing dispute between Haryana and Punjab, Hooda alleged that chief minister Nayab Singh Saini frequently visited Punjab but did not adequately raise Haryana’s water concerns.“The situation today is such that Haryana does not have a representative from its irrigation department in the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB). As a result, Haryana is not even getting the share of water it used to receive earlier, leave aside the SYL (Satluj-Yamuna Link) water,” he said.Hooda has made similar allegations in the past regarding Haryana’s representation in the BBMB, saying the absence of state representatives weakens Haryana’s ability to safeguard its interests.The senior Congress functionary also targeted the BJP govt over inflation and Haryana’s finances, alleging that the rising prices of essential commodities reflected broader economic distress.He cited recent increases in the prices of sugar and cooking gas cylinders and claimed that Haryana’s economic position had deteriorated under the BJP govt.“From the formation of Haryana in 1966 till 2014, the state’s debt was around Rs 70,000 crore. Under the BJP govt, it has now risen to nearly Rs 5.5 lakh crore,” Hooda said.Hooda also described the latest increase in the minimum support price for Rabi crops as inadequate, arguing that the hike had failed to keep pace with the increase in input costs.He said farmers were facing higher expenses for diesel, fertilisers, seeds, pesticides, farm machinery and labour, while the returns from farming were not keeping pace.“Petrol, diesel and gas prices are touching the sky. Everything required for farming has become expensive, forcing farmers into increasing distress,” he said.Hooda also claimed that crop prices had risen at a much faster pace during the Congress govt’s tenure than under the BJP govt. He also alleged that farmers often failed to realise the announced MSP in actual market transactions.The LoP further alleged that inadequate govt procurement of paddy and bajra (pearl millet) had added to farmers’ difficulties.He claimed that farmers were being compelled to sell their produce at prices as much as Rs 400 per quintal below prevailing market rates because of procurement-related restrictions and delays.“Farmers are facing long waits, unnecessary hurdles and delays in selling their produce—problems they did not face to the same extent during the Congress govt,” Hooda said.
