State has resources to back the welfare announcements: Bhupinder Singh Hooda

CHANDIGARH: Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda today said the state was on a sound financial footing and had resources to back the announcements that his government has been making for the welfare of the people.

"Our financial position is sound, we rank among the top states whose fiscal health is good. Our financial position is better than Punjab and we have the money to back the announcements we are making for the welfare of various sections," the Chief Minister told reporters this evening after chairing a Cabinet meeting here.

Hooda said this on being asked if the state government is in a position to financially match up the populist announcements which are being made ahead of the state Assembly polls.

Hooda has been holding a series of Cabinet meetings during the past one month, announcing sops for various sections of the society.

Meanwhile, main opposition INLD today termed the populist schemes being announced by Hooda an "election stunt".

"The announcements are merely an election stunt. Some of the announcements made will take effect from November 1, the time when new government will be in place in the state after polls," said state unit chief of Haryana INLD Ashok Arora.

"These announcements are not only immoral and unconstitutional, but against the democratic norms as they are being made by the Chief Minister barely days before the Model Code of Conduct is going to be enforced in Haryana in view of the announcement of polls in the state," he said.

When asked about the recent transfer of Governors, Hooda said the dignity of the office of Governor should be upheld and we must care for the culture.

"One Governor has even approached the Supreme Court, therefore, we should wait," he said.

On the bypoll results announced today in some states, Hooda said after the Lok Sabha elections, expectations of the people are turning into disappointments and there was growing resentment against the BJP-led government.

"The results in Bihar, Punjab and earlier in Uttarakhand is a reflection of growing resentment against the BJP-led government," he said.

Hooda said he was grateful to the people of the state for "coming in large numbers" to attend the Congress rally at Panipat yesterday.

"The enthusiasm and support of the people reflected that Congress will form government in the state for the third consecutive term," he claimed.

To a question, he said winnability will be the main factor which will be kept in mind while giving tickets to candidates for the Assembly polls.

When asked to comment on a controversy surrounding the alleged poor portrayal of Madana village in Jhajjar in a TV show for its adverse sex ratio, Hooda said, "There is great resentment among the villagers pertaining to the issue. Such a thing is not good (showing the village in poor light)."