Saini Attacks Cong's 'Haryana Maange Hisab' Campaign

Chandigarh: Listing out the measures taken by his government to compensate farmers over this year's subnormal rain, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini countered the Congress criticism over the issue, saying the opposition party gave only "meagre amounts" while it was in power.

Stepping up the attack hours before the Election Commission announced assembly poll date for Haryana, Saini, addressing a press conference on Friday, hit out at Congress's 'Haryana Maange Hisab' campaign and accused it of spreading lies.

Asked if he has any information on whether Haryana's poll dates will be announced later in the day, Saini had quipped in the morning: "Who said so? Polls will be held as per schedule." The Election Commission on Friday afternoon announced that Assembly polls in Haryana would be held in a single phase on October 1 and the results would be declared on October 4.

The chief minister pointed to the recent cabinet decision to compensate farmers affected by less rains at a rate of Rs 2,000 per acre as a bonus.

"We have released the first instalment of Rs 525 crore on Friday," he said.

All the farmers who have registered on the designated portal will be compensated for their losses, he said, adding that the BJP-led government in the state has taken several steps for farmers' welfare in the past 10 years.

"Congress sheds crocodile tears in the name of farmers. They should tell how much crops they procured from farmers in 10 years between 2005-2014," Saini said.

"During their rule, Congress used to handover cheques of meagre amounts of Rs 2, Rs 5 for crop damage. The BJP government has given Rs 13,276 crore as compensation to farmers for crop damage in the past 10 years," he said.

During the Congress rule, farmers would "dump their produce" on roads as they did not get the required price, the CM said.

Under the BJP government, payment is made to the farmers' bank accounts within 72 hours, Saini said.

Meanwhile, with the aim to further the welfare of livestock farmers and milk vendors across the state, Saini announced that now, veterinary polyclinics will be opened in phased manner in remaining eight districts -- Panchkula, Kaithal, Karnal, Hisar, Jhajjar, Gurugram, Faridabad and Yamunanagar.

The chief minister also announced that the milk vendors, who supply milk to households on door-to-door basis and are registered under Parivar Pehchan Patra (family id) and having an annual family income upto Rs 3 lakh per annum, will be covered under DAYALU Yojana of the state government wherein financial assistance will be provided in case of death or permanent disability of a member of the family.

Dubbing the 'Haryana Maange Hisab' campaign as a "jhooth ki yatra" (yatra of lies), he said, "Those who are seeking an account from us, I want to show them the mirror and tell them how we are taking decisions in favour of farmers and empowering them." Saini said while the Congress is wearing a mask of honesty these days, everyone knows how farmers' land was "snatched by them in the name of CLU (change of land use)" and handed them over to builders.

The Congress has been attacking the BJP as part of its 'Haryana Maange Hisab' campaign, after its launch on July 15, targeting the ruling party over several issues concerning farmers as well as unemployment, law and order and others.

Meanwhile, Saini said in the last decade, the government has procured over 50 lakh tonnes of bajra at MSP. In addition, 33,52,000 metric tonnes of mustard and 96,232 metric tonnes of sunflower have been procured at MSP.

Saini said the government is currently making record purchases of 14 crops at MSP and has now decided to extend MSP procurement to all remaining crops.

Targeting the opposition Congress, he challenged those who claim to be well-wishers of farmers to tell how many crops they procured at MSP during their 10-year tenure.

He said the government has implemented the Bhavantar Bharpai Yojana to protect horticultural farmers from market price drops, setting a guaranteed price for horticultural crops.

Saini said the state government introduced the Meri Fasal-Mera Byora portal for crop registration and verification, ensuring timely crop purchases and other benefits.

Over the past eight seasons, the state has directly transferred Rs 1,12,000 crore to the accounts of 30 lakh farmers.

Saini said that for stubble management, the government has provided 59,435 crop residue management machines to farmers at a 50 percent subsidy.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Republic and is published from a syndicated feed.)