Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, November 27
Former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Wednesday called for the CBI probe into mining and paddy procurement scams. Talking to mediapersons, he said, “Illegal mining has changed the course of the Yamuna.”
“A number of officers are still checking paddy procurement stocks, but Agriculture Minister Jai Parkash Dalal says there is no scam. I have information that farmers have not got MSP and are being forced to sell at a low rate,” he said.
He said there was no further action in the Transport Department despite suspensions in connection with the kilometre scam. He said the BJP and JJP fought against each other, but formed the government. “They should make it clear whether they will contest the next elections together,” he asked.
“They have failed to formulate a common minimum programme despite coming to power a month ago. They have not done anything for the people so far. On the other hand, they are going to every district and trying to find reasons for their defeat,” he said.
“I can tell them why they lost. They lost because they did not fulfil any of the promises made in 2014. Had they not created an atmosphere of 75-Paar or 80-Paar with the help of the media, they would not have crossed 15 seats,” he maintained.
On air pollution caused by stubble burning, he said farmers were being wrongly blamed and made to face FIRs. “I want to know how many farmers have they compensated,” he asked. Saying sugarcane procurement prices were the same for the last three years, he demanded a hike of Rs 375 per quintal.
On the performance of the Congress in the state Assembly elections, he said, “Some tickets were wrongly given. Organisational changes were made late, leaving only 15 days for campaigning.”
On his video with Congress leaders Ahmed Patel and Ghulam Nabi Azad, which went viral during the elections, he clarified that they were discussing tickets and not seats which the Congress could win.
