‘Leave Haryana before…’: Bhupinder Hooda’s stern warning to drug smugglers ahead of elections

Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda issued a stark warning to criminals and drug smugglers in Haryana that the current BJP government was on the verge of collapse and that they should leave the state before the results of the October 8 assembly elections were announced.

While campaigning for the Congress candidates in Sirsa district, Hooda highlighted the growing drug crisis and claimed that there are now more drug-related deaths in Haryana than in Punjab.

Hooda, a former chief minister, criticised the BJP for allegedly deteriorating law and order in the state. He accused the BJP of forming a “hidden” alliance with regional parties such as the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), the Haryana Lokhit Party (HLP) and the Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) to steal votes from the Congress. He expressed confidence that voters have recognised this tactic and are united behind the Congress party.

Hooda promised a series of reforms if elected. He said the Congress would create 200,000 permanent merit-based jobs, provide an old-age pension of Rs 6,000, introduce a new pension scheme for government employees and provide 300 units of free electricity.

Other promises included subsidising LPG cylinders to Rs 500, providing Rs 2,000 per month to women and introducing a free treatment scheme up to Rs 25 lakh. He also promised a legal guarantee on the minimum support price (MSP) for farmers and raising the upper class limit for other underprivileged classes from Rs 6 lakh to Rs 10 lakh.

The election for the 90 seats in the Haryana Legislative Assembly is scheduled for October 5.