CHANDIGARH: Continuing populist announcements made by the Congress in

,

and

, former

CM

on Thursday declared that his party would waive farm loans within six hours of forming government in Haryana.

The senior Congress leader, who has served Haryana CM for two terms, also said within 12 hours of coming into power in the state, the Congress would enhance old-age pension in Haryana to Rs 3,000 from Rs 2,000 and reduce the electricity tariff by 50%."Our government would waive the loans of all the farmers within six hours of forming the government in Haryana. These will include the loans taken from the state cooperative banks as well as the nationalized banks," Hooda said.

When questioned about the financial viability of this announcement, the former CM said: "I am aware about the financial position of the state but will find the way. We will cut the power tariff to half the existing rates and hike old age pension to Rs 3,000 per month within 12 hours of coming into power."

‘BJP failed to fulfil a single promise made in manifesto’

Speculating on the chances of early assembly elections in the state, Hooda said, “I doubt if the Manohar Lal Khattar government would go for Vidhan Sabha and Lok Sabha polls simultaneously because they are afraid of losing the power.” He was very confident of winning the Jind byelection, due to be held in February, and said his party was “ready for the Jind byelection for the state assembly and would surely win the seat.”

A day before the winter session of the Haryana assembly, Hooda spoke to the media on various issues such as result of mayoral polls and filing of defamation suit against minister Manish Grover.

On Congress’s performance in mayoral polls, he said, “I had already questioned the use of electronic voting machines in civic polls and had demanded that they should be used with voter verified paper audit trail.”

Regarding Rs 50 crore defamation suit against state’s minister of state for cooperation Manish Grover, the former CM said, He had run a malicious campaign against me during the recently-concluded civic polls and I have sent him a legal notice for that. I would certainly file a defamation suit against him for Rs 50 crore damages. I belong to a reputed family and was unnecessarily dragged into the Jat agitation by him while campaigning in the mayoral polls.”

Taking a swipe at the ruling BJP, the Congress leader said, “They have failed to fulfil even a single promise made in their election manifesto for the state assembly polls. They had promised broadband in every village, two AIIMS-like institutes in the state, Haryana premier league in the lines of IPL to promote sports in Haryana, loans to small shopkeepers on lower interest rates and Rs 1 kg ration for BPL families. Not a single promise has been fulfilled. They are drum-beaters but did nothing.”