War of words in Haryana: CM Saini pitches prosperity, Congress alleges rising crime, debt

War of words in Haryana: CM Saini pitches prosperity, Congress alleges rising crime, debt Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala, leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party, opened the morning session of the Haryana Legislative Assembly with a sharp rebuttal of the opposition’s claims. He pointed out that while Congress leaders have long boasted of turning the state into a model for development, the reality, he argued, was the opposite. According to Chautala, the state has become a benchmark for corruption, nepotism, fear, favouritism and regional discrimination – a narrative he said the opposition would not hesitate to repeat in the next election..

In response, Congress spokesperson Ajay Kumar Sharma accused the ruling party of a blatant disregard for law and order. He said that crime statistics had climbed sharply over the past three years, with serious offences such as theft and assault seeing a 15 % increase. Sharma also alleged that the government’s “pro‑growth” policies had been accompanied by a mounting public debt that now stood at 40 % of the state’s gross domestic product..

Chautala countered that the BJP‑led coalition had delivered record revenues and reduced the state debt to 28 % of GDP. He cited the new industrial corridor in Gurgaon and the expansion of the Sonepat logistics hub as evidence of the government’s commitment to growth. The CM added that the state’s per‑capita income had risen by 4.3 % over the last fiscal year, a figure he said would lift the average citizen out of poverty..

The opposition criticised the figure, claiming it was inflated by a one‑off windfall from the sale of a state‑owned sugar mill. They argued that the real growth rate, after adjusting for inflation and the high cost of living in urban centres, was only 1.2 %. They also pointed to a 12 % rise in the poverty rate among the scheduled castes, suggesting that the benefits of growth were not being shared equitably..

During the debate, the BJP‑led government highlighted its “Digital Haryana” initiative, which had expanded broadband access to 75 % of the state’s rural households. The CM said the programme had opened new avenues for education and e‑commerce, especially for women entrepreneurs. He also referenced a 10 % rise in the number of women working in the private sector, which he said was a sign of changing attitudes towards gender equality..

Congress leaders countered that the digital initiative had failed to reach the most marginalised communities. They pointed to a 30 % digital illiteracy rate among the Dalit population, arguing that the state’s digital divide was widening. The opposition also highlighted the lack of adequate police staffing in rural districts, claiming that it had led to a rise in property crime and a feeling of insecurity among farmers..

Chautala addressed the police concern by noting a 20 % increase in the state’s security budget, with a particular focus on deploying more paramilitary units to border villages. He claimed that crime statistics in rural areas had dropped by 8 % in the last two years, attributing the decline to improved policing and community policing initiatives. He also announced a new scheme that would provide financial assistance to families affected by crime..

The opposition, however, argued that the crime figures did not account for unreported cases. They pointed out that a recent survey by a civil‑society organisation found that 45 % of crime victims in the state had not filed complaints. They said that this gap revealed a deeper distrust of the police and a need for stronger oversight mechanisms..

During the session, both parties discussed the state’s fiscal management. Chautala said that the BJP‑led coalition had implemented a stringent audit regime that cut expenditure wastage by 18 %. He also cited the reduction of the state’s net debt by 8 % last year as evidence of responsible governance..

The opposition countered that the audit reports were being manipulated to hide irregularities, pointing to a pending Supreme Court case involving the alleged misappropriation of 500 million rupees from a state‑owned water project. The debate concluded with a promise from the ruling party to increase transparency by publishing monthly performance reports for all state departments. The opposition, meanwhile, vowed to organise a series of public hearings on corruption and accountability..

Both sides agreed that the upcoming elections would be a decisive test of the electorate’s response to these conflicting narratives..