Chandigarh: Bhupinder Singh Hooda, a former chief minister of Haryana and a Congress politician, criticized the Haryana administration on Tuesday for several reasons, including the increase in interest rates on agricultural loans, suspected Pakistani eavesdropping, and governance choices.

Hooda said that by increasing agricultural loan interest rates from 0% to 7%, the Haryana government had betrayed farmers. He said that interest on agricultural loans had been significantly lowered during the UPA administration, which was run by Congress.

Hooda told the media, “It was 11 to 12 percent in the nationalized bank, and it belonged to the farmer or cooperative. The UPA government then reduced it to seven percent.” Additionally, it was enforced nationwide when I was named chairman that no bank, whether nationalized or cooperative, may charge interest rates higher than 4 percent. Crop loans, which were introduced nationwide, would be provided.

He said, “We have lowered the Haryana Cooperative Bank’s agricultural loan to zero percent. A letter containing zero percent has just arrived for the farmer, who will return it on schedule. I’ve noticed that these packs contain a 7% interest rate levied by Hisar Cooperative Bank. From zero percent to seven percent, interest is charged. It is necessary to provide this explanation. Without it, the government is unable to do this.

Hooda said that the agricultural community was suffering due to increased expenses and a lack of assistance, and he criticized the BJP-led government for making farming more expensive.

“The farmers are not pleased. Their earnings are declining. Compared to our period, the expense of farming has more than doubled. Diesel was the least expensive, and there was no GST on insecticides or fertilizer. The VAT on fuel has now been increased. Fertilizer and pesticide medications were subject to GST. The cost has gone up significantly, if I say twenty-eight percent. The income indicates a decline in farmers. Farmers do not even get the MSP they disclose, and the MSP has not grown,” he said.

Regarding the espionage case in which Tariff was detained by Haryana Police on suspicion of spying for Pakistan, Hooda called for a thorough inquiry, saying, “It is a very serious matter.” It has to be properly explored. The guilty need to face harsh punishment. It is not appropriate to trap the innocent. We won’t know who was betraying our nation until a thorough inquiry is completed and we get the truth about this issue.”

Hooda responded to Congressman Rahul Gandhi’s tweet as well, endorsing the need for the administration to provide clarification on important national issues.

Hooda urged national responsibility and insisted that the government provide the public with the facts, supporting Rahul Gandhi’s recent remarks.

Hooda said, “We made a demand, and Rahul agreed. The Indian populace is curious. The President of the United States cited several incidents of this kind when he originally proclaimed the truce. The nation’s citizens are curious about the true situation. They sometimes inquire, “Where did the ship go, brother?” and “Did the pilot come safely?” In order to put the nation at the forefront, a special Parliament meeting and an all-party meeting should be organized to examine these issues.

During the day’s meeting, Hooda also revealed that five Information Commissioners and one Chief Information Commissioner had been appointed, leaving two posts open. The governor was supposed to formally announce these nominations during the next session.