Panchkula, April 6- Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda today said that the damage caused to the standing crops due to recent rains and hailstrom, which lashed some areas in the State, was being assessed.The Chief Minister was replying to the questions of media persons shortly after performing yajana and paying obeisance at Shri Mata Mansa Devi Shrine in Panchkula, near here today on the occasion of first Navratra.
In reply to a question, Mr Hooda said that he would urge the Central Government to give bonus on wheat to the farmers.When asked to comment whether the country was heading for mid termpoll, Mr Hooda said that he expected that elections would be held on schedule. However, he added,the Congress Party is prepared for elections. Mr Hooda also appreciated the functioning of the UPAGovernment at the Centre. In reply to a question concerning bye elections to three seats of State Assembly which have fallen vacant recently, Mr Hooda said that the Congress Party was prepared and it would win all these bye elections.
When his attention was drawn towards the criticism of the Central Government due to inflation, the Chief Minister said that the opposition was not able to digest the success of the Government, especially the decision to waive off loans of farmers amounting to Rs. 60,000 crore. He said that steps were being taken to deal with the issue of inflation. He pointed out that the opposition did not do all that it could when it was in power. Now the people knew the real picture, he added.
When asked that when would the President of Panchkula municipality would be elected, he said that it depended upon the councillors.Hooda was accompanied by his wife Mrs Asha Hooda.