Former Haryana Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda has launched a sharp attack on the BJP government, accusing it of failing to take concrete measures to provide relief to flood-affected people in the state. Hooda said there is growing anger among the public against what he termed as the government’s “apathy and negligence.”
Speaking to journalists at his residence after touring several flood-ravaged districts, Hooda compared the current disaster to the devastating floods of 1995, stating that the situation this year is even worse. He said nearly 18 lakh acres of standing crops have been destroyed, while close to 6,000 villages, 11 towns, and 72 cities have been impacted. “So far, about 4 lakh farmers have officially uploaded crop damage details on the government’s portal, but the actual number of victims is far higher,” he noted.
Hooda highlighted that farmlands along the Yamuna have been completely washed away, with standing crops, including paddy, sugarcane, and poplar plantations, either uprooted or destroyed by waterlogging. “The sand deposited by floodwaters is so thick that taking the next season’s crop will be nearly impossible,” he said.
He directly blamed illegal mining activities for worsening the floods, accusing the state government of protecting mining mafias. “Under the patronage of the government, illegal mining has altered the natural flow of the Yamuna. From the National Green Tribunal to the Supreme Court, courts have repeatedly pulled up the government, but instead of cracking down on mafias, it continues to shield them,” Hooda alleged.
The Congress leader also criticized the central government for ignoring Haryana’s plight. He said that while Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union Agriculture Minister reviewed flood damage in Punjab, they did not visit Haryana, despite the state suffering equally massive losses. Hooda demanded a special financial package for Haryana, similar to Punjab.
Hitting out at the state government’s relief measures, Hooda described the announced compensation of ₹7,000–15,000 per acre as an insult to farmers. “The initial cost of cultivation itself is around ₹30,000–35,000 per acre, while annual lease rates are ₹60,000–70,000 per acre. Giving farmers only ₹7,000 as compensation is nothing less than rubbing salt on their wounds,” he said.
With Haryana’s agriculture-driven economy reeling under unprecedented damage, Hooda urged both state and central governments to act responsibly and provide adequate relief. He said failure to do so would not only cripple farmers but also impact the rural economy of the state for years to come.
