Axe freebies, focus on basics, development, Haryana voters tell BJP, Congress

The BJP and the Congress are promising the moon as they seek to gain power in Haryana, but most voters do not seem impressed.

A large number of men and women interviewed in a wide swath of Haryana told The Federal that the two dominant parties must focus on unleashing real development instead of promising economically unviable freebies.

Many underlined that several of the over 7,000 villages that dot the agrarian state lack good educational facilities and at times even basic healthcare. And unemployment is at an all-time high.

Haryana’s pathetic state

“In literacy, Haryana stands 22^nd while literacy and health in Mewat region is truly a shame,” said Professor Aizaz Ahmed of Nuh. “What will a poor family without a job and education do with free electricity? The future of youth is possible only through education.”

Rajiv Yadav, who heads NGO Adhikar, accuses political parties of attempting to fool the electorate.

Blaming the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh, he says it does not have money to pay salary to its employees but is promising free power and cash transfers.

BJP, Congress manifestoes

“Where will the funds come from?” he asks. He says education and healthcare were pathetic in the entire country. Naturally, he has no respect for the sugar-coated election manifestoes of political parties.

The Congress, led by former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, recently released the party manifesto, followed by Chief Minister Naib Singh Saini of the BJP.

Bhiwani resident Pramod Mehta feels the numerous promises that makes up the election manifestoes were not good for the country.

‘Locals don’t trust promises’

“We cannot blame the BJP for making a long list of promises as it has incorporated most promises of the Congress manifesto,” he said. “At the same time, many development issues are silent in the manifestoes of these parties.”

Sajjan Kumar of village Khungo in Jind district told The Federal that the locals do not trust the election-eve promises.

“We need massive improvement in health, education and agriculture, not free distributions of flowery schemes and subsidies. These parties are trying to fool us. They lie during every election,” he said.

Focus on health, education

Ganga Ram of Chahrkhurd alleged that the political parties were least concerned about the state’s actual development.

“Rather than making never-to-be-fulfilled promises, I would appreciate if the political parties had stated how they will improve government schools, hospitals and dispensaries. By strengthening education and health sectors, they would serve the basic purpose of the election,” he told The Federal.

Sunil Sharma, an advocate, too urged the Congress and BJP to avoid “practices experimented in Delhi. We pay the tax to the government; it is not good the government distributes tax money through superfluous promises and freebie style”.

Previous electoral battles

The BJP, if it retains power, will create history by forming a government for a third consecutive term. A Congress win will put it back in the saddle after 10 years.

In the previous five Assembly elections, the Congress won 21 seats in 2000, 67 in 2005, 40 in 2009, 15 in 2014, and 31 seats in 2019. The BJP bagged six seats in 2000, two in 2005, four in 2009, 47 in 2014, and 40 seats in 2019.

Haryana will vote on October 5 to pick a new 90-seat House.

Congress promises

The Congress has promised a pension of Rs 6,000 a month for the elderly, disabled and widows besides restoration of the old pension scheme, drawing sharp criticism from the BJP.

The Congress, which is contesting 89 seats, has also promised that its government will provide a cooking gas cylinder at Rs 500 and give Rs 2,000 a month to every woman in Haryana above 18 years.

GL Sharma, a Congress leader, told The Federal that the Congress manifesto was not about freebies but a commitment to put Haryana on the path of development.

INLD attacks BJP, Congress

The Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), now a pale shadow of its once former self, took pot-shots at both the Congress and the BJP.

"Both have accepted defeat as one can make out from their manifestoes. Roads, electricity, education, health, jobs all are in bad shape in the state. These two parties are trying to divert the attention of voters from these facts,” said INLD leader Pratap Singh.