The Hindu : National : A satisfying year for the Congress and Hooda in Haryana

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jan 01, 2009
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

National

National

A satisfying year for the Congress and Hooda in Haryana

Rajesh Ahuja

CHANDIGARH: The year that just went by further marked political consolidation in Haryana by the Congress led by Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda. Close to completing four years of its tenure, the Congress regime was able to win two of three State Assembly by-elections except for the Adampur seat which was retained by former Chief Minister and Haryana Janhit Congress patron Bhajan Lal albeit with a reduced majority. Congressmen attributed the party’s victory to development activities being carried out by the State Government.

The main opposition party, Indian National Lok Dal, re-aligned itself with the BJP and rejoined the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) platform. Both the INLD-BJP and the Haryana Janhit Congress floated by Mr. Bhajan Lal’s younger son Kuldip Bishnoi organised several “successful” rallies while Mayawati’s Bahujan Samaj Party made efforts to introduce its concept of “social engineering” in Haryana by wooing non-Jats.

Even as 2008 saw “all-round development with the focus on peace and social welfare”, the police again came in for criticism for its “inhumane face” in handling agitations and crimes.

Haryana’s economy grew by nine per cent during the year against a projection of 7.9 per cent in the Tenth Plan and as per government claims, despite severe recession, the State “continues to attract investment and even foreign companies”. The Government also came out with sops and measures throughout the year with the aim of satisfying all sections of society. And the year ended with the Government’s decision to implement the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission with effect from January 1, 2006, which came as a bonanza for 3.5 lakh-odd Government employees and thousands of pensioners.

The Hooda Government continued with its pro-farmer approach. According to statistics, the UPA Government’s loan waiver scheme benefited about 7.12 lakh farmers of Haryana to the tune of Rs.2,189 crore. The Government announced the highest minimum support price for sugarcane in the country and persuaded the Centre to lift the ban on export of Pusa-1121 variety after declaring it Basmati.

Besides opening five new colleges, the State got sanction for an Indian Institute of Management, a Defence University, a Business School, a Central University and a Sainik School and launched a plethora of scholarship schemes for poor.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National

News Update

Stories in this Section