Dikhyaa Mohanty 
Bhupinder Hooda, a former chief minister and leader of the Congress, claimed on Monday that crime against women has increased and the state’s BJP government has failed to protect women. According to official government statistics, Haryana led the nation in crimes against women.
“Every day five cases of rape and 13 cases of kidnapping come to light and every day 46 women face some crime or the other. Due to government negligence, thousands of women employees, including Anganwadi, Asha workers, mid-day meal workers and nursing staff, are forced to take to the streets. For the Congress and women, this time the Assembly elections have become not only an election for change of power but also for the protection of the honour and dignity of women,” he said.
Rakhi (gifts) to Hooda on the auspicious holiday of Rakshabandhan were sent by women from over Haryana. To commemorate this festival, legislators Geeta Bhukkal and Shakuntala Khatak tied ‘rakhi’ to Hooda. Hooda pledged at the time that women’s safety will come first when the state’s Congress government is established.
“Crime and miscreants will be wiped out from the state. To reduce inflation, LPG cylinders will be available for Rs 500 and 300 units of electricity will be free. The backlog in government jobs will be completed and the participation of women in government jobs will be increased. Today the law and order situation in the state has collapsed. A big reason behind the increase in crime is the youth getting hooked on drugs. The state government is giving protection to the drug mafia instead of catching them. Schools are being closed and liquor shops are being opened in every village, street and locality,” he said.
BJP-ruled Haryana will go to the polls for the 90-member legislative assembly on October 1.
