Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) national president Abhay Singh Chautala strongly criticised the Haryana government on Sunday for raising the tractor registration renewal fee by almost ten times. He said the decision clearly showed an “anti-farmer mindset” and would deepen the financial problems of farmers who already struggle with high agricultural costs.
According to Chautala, the renewal fee, which was earlier ₹1,080, has now been increased to ₹10,485. He said this massive jump puts an “unjustifiable burden” on farmers who depend on tractors for nearly every major agricultural activity. Tractors are essential for ploughing fields, sowing seeds, transporting crops to mandis, and carrying equipment. Increasing the fee so sharply, he said, makes it even harder for rural families to sustain their daily work.
Speaking on the issue, Chautala said that farmers form the economic backbone of Haryana, and such decisions directly affect their livelihoods. He reminded the government that tractors were once treated as essential agricultural vehicles, thanks to the efforts of former deputy prime minister Devi Lal. At that time, the policy ensured that farmers would not face taxes or high toll charges when using tractors, recognising their importance in farm operations.
Chautala argued that the current hike goes completely against that spirit. “By increasing the fee by 10 times, the BJP government has dealt a blow to the very backbone of the farming community,” he said. According to him, this decision proves that the government prioritises the interests of big industrialists while ignoring the challenges faced by farmers.
He demanded that the Haryana government immediately withdraw the hike and reduce the renewal fee to a nominal ₹100 instead. He said this small amount would be reasonable and fair, considering the already high costs of running a farm. The INLD leader said that rural families are already under pressure due to rising expenses, and any additional burden would worsen their condition.
The issue has created widespread concern among farmers across the state. Many believe that tractors, being essential farming tools, should be kept affordable at every stage—whether it is buying them, maintaining them, or renewing their registration. Chautala said the government’s approach was insensitive to ground realities and failed to understand the daily struggles of the farming community.
He said that the government needs to focus on policies that support farmers rather than decisions that push them into deeper economic hardship. For many families, even small increases in agricultural costs make a big difference. A sudden ten-fold increase is especially damaging and shows a lack of consultation with the people most affected.
Chautala also pointed out that the BJP government should have held discussions with farmer organisations before making such a major change. He said that if the government truly cared about farmers, it would avoid such abrupt decisions and instead offer relief measures, especially during a time when input costs are rising across the agriculture sector.
The criticism did not come from the INLD alone. Digvijay Singh Chautala, youth state president of the Jannayak Janta Party (JJP), also condemned the steep hike in the renewal fee. He said that the decision was completely anti-farmer and lacked any rational basis. According to him, increasing the fee to such an extreme level would only deepen the financial distress of farmers who are already struggling to survive.
Digvijay Singh Chautala said that farmers are already facing high prices for diesel, fertilisers, seeds, pesticides, and agricultural equipment. The rising cost of living and farming has left many families worried about their future. In such a situation, he said, imposing an additional burden through a huge fee hike is both unfair and insensitive.
He added that farming has become more expensive than ever before, and each year the cost of inputs rises faster than the price farmers get for their crops. This imbalance leaves farmers with very small earnings, making it harder for them to invest in new machinery or even maintain the equipment they already own. A ten-fold increase in registration fees, he said, makes the situation much worse.
The JJP leader urged the government to understand what farmers are facing on the ground. He said many farmers are already trapped in debt due to low crop prices and high input costs. For them, a sudden fee hike is not just an inconvenience—it could push them towards further financial instability. He said the decision should be reconsidered immediately for the sake of farmers’ welfare.
Digvijay Singh Chautala also explained that if the government fails to listen to farmers, it risks losing their trust. He said policies must be made after discussions with farmer groups, local leaders, and agricultural experts. Without such consultations, decisions often harm rather than help the people they are meant to support.
He said that the government must step back and rethink its approach toward farmers. According to him, the priority should be to make farming more affordable, easier, and more sustainable. Reducing the renewal fee to a reasonable amount would be a good first step in showing that the government cares about the welfare of rural families.
Both INLD and JJP leaders have demanded that the government immediately roll back the hike. They believe that the renewal fee should be kept at a level that does not burden farmers or hinder their ability to maintain their essential agricultural vehicles. The widespread criticism shows that the issue has become a major political concern and that farmers across Haryana expect the government to act quickly and responsibly.
Across the state, the reaction has been clear: farmers need support and relief, not additional financial obstacles. Leaders from multiple parties have called for urgent action, and the coming days may determine how the Haryana government responds to the strong opposition against its decision.
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