‘Headline politics’: Saini slams opposition claims on debt, jobs, law and order

Chandigarh: A day after the defeat of a BJP-backed Independent candidate, Haryana chief minister Nayab Singh Saini on Tuesday accused the opposition of indulging in "headline politics" and ignoring the state's development, asserting that his govt was focused on long-term growth.Replying to the debate on the budget during the concluding sitting of the 12-day assembly session, Saini said the opposition was raising allegations without substance. "The ‘aarop lagao aur bhaag jao' mindset reflects a lack of seriousness in debate," he said, adding that the budget was prepared after considering around 5,000 suggestions.Rejecting claims of rising debt, the CM said misleading figures were being used to create fear. He asserted that Haryana's financial position was stronger than Punjab's and maintained there was no need for a white paper as all financial data was publicly available. "For 2026-27, Haryana's total budget stands at Rs 2,23,658 crore, with its total debt amounting to approximately 175% of the budget. On the other hand, Punjab's total budget is merely Rs 1,80,437 crore, yet its total debt stands at approximately 248% of its budget," he said.Saini said the state's real budget growth ranged between 8% and 9.24%.Saini said the budget was part of long-term planning aligned with both the Union and state govts' vision. He dismissed opposition claims on unemployment as incorrect and said data must be based on facts rather than "emotional remarks".Addressing concerns over lack of consultation with farmers, he said a pre-budget meeting held on Jan 15 at Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, was attended by 362 stakeholders, including farmers and experts. He also said Rs 100 crore had been allocated for the SYL canal, countering opposition claims that it was ignored.Responding to allegations regarding Haryana Telecom Limited, Saini said the issue pertained to a nearly three-decade-old industrial dispute, which had now been resolved through due legal process, with pending dues deposited in the state exchequer.On employment, the CM said Haryana's unemployment rate stood at 5%, lower than neighbouring states, citing the latest Periodic Labour Force Survey. He added since 2014, about 1.8 lakh youths had been given govt jobs on merit.Saini highlighted revenue gains under the excise policy 2025–27, stating the govt earned Rs 14,342 crore from licence fees, higher than the previous year.On law and order, he rejected claims that Haryana was among the most dangerous states, calling them misleading. He said NCRB data did not rank states in that manner and asserted that crime control and public safety had improved.The CM also defended the BJP's support to an independent candidate in the Rajya Sabha polls, saying it was within democratic norms.