Chandigarh, Feb 18 (NationPress) Former Chief Minister of Haryana, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, criticized the trade agreement with the United States, labeling it as detrimental to farmers. He stated, 'If animal feed is sourced from America, our farmers will face ruin.'

At a public event in Fatehabad, Hooda, who leads the opposition, highlighted that the US has imposed an 18% tariff on India, while offering a zero tariff to Bangladesh. He warned, 'This agreement will significantly affect cotton farmers.'

He asserted that farmers are being subjected to persistent injustices under the current administration. For instance, the weight of a fertilizer bag has been decreased from 50 kg to 40 kg, yet prices have remained unchanged. He also claimed that the promise of providing Minimum Support Price (MSP) for 24 crops is misleading, as Haryana does not cultivate that many crops.

Furthermore, Hooda mentioned that the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojna has generated profits exceeding Rs 2,000 crore, but claims remain unfulfilled, leading many to abandon their insurance policies. He noted, 'Less than 10% of the compensation has been disbursed.'

On the topic of pension cuts for senior citizens, he pointed out that the government is now claiming to restore 70,000 pensions, contradicting their earlier stance that no pensions had been cut. He emphasized that many ration cards issued before the elections are being revoked, which he views as a form of vote theft, with approximately 1.4 million ration cards canceled in Haryana, including 54,000 in Ambala.

Hooda accused the BJP government of redirecting its frustration towards Congress MLAs to cover its shortcomings. He mentioned the MLA from Guhla Cheeka and stated that the government lacks control over law and order.

The Congress leader noted that law and order in the state has deteriorated, with drug abuse escalating and citizens feeling unsafe. He plans to propose a special resolution regarding law and order in the upcoming Assembly session, demanding accountability from the government.

According to Hooda, organized crime is thriving in Haryana, with over 50-60 gangs operating, committing crimes and profiting from them. He stressed the necessity to dismantle these gangs.

The former Chief Minister referenced a recent gruesome murder in Rohtak, which occurred near the Inspector General's office, as evidence of governmental failure.

He concluded by saying, 'Today, extortion is being demanded from business owners and medical professionals. Industries are relocating, and investments are dwindling. Improving law and order and restoring public trust are critical for progress. However, under BJP rule, the atmosphere is one of fear due to government weakness.'