Several regional political parties like the INLD, SAD and the National Conference on Saturday put up a show of strength on the 108th birth anniversary of the late deputy PM Devi Lal and also backed the stir against the Centre's farm laws in Haryana's Jind.
The event saw a surprise participation of BJP leader and former Union minister Birender Singh.
The Indian National Lok Dal had organised a “Samman Diwas Samaroh” at Jind to mark the birth anniversary of the former deputy PM.
Akali stalwart and five-time chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, former Jammu and Kashmir CM Farooq Abdullah, Janata Dal (U) leader KC Tyagi and former Haryana CM OP Chautala attended the rally. Former PM HD Devegowda and ex-Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mulayam Singh Yadav could not attend the event.
Addressing the gathering, Badal urged people to strengthen regional outfits for the resolution of their issues. Pointing out that he has 70 years of political experience, Badal said governments of regional parties should be formed in states as they know the ground realities and understand people' problems. "Those who do not know your problems, who are sitting in Delhi and never saw a village and farmers’ problems, how could they solve issues," said the Akali stalwart. "Unless you give strength to the regional parties, nothing will happen," said the five-time chief minister. Badal urged the leaders who attended the event to bring all regional parties in the country together. He urged Chautala to go to every state and bring leaders of the opposition parties on one platform. He called former deputy PM Devi Lal an institution, who sacrificed the post of the PM in the first non-Congress government and recommended VP Singh’s name.
Speaking on the occasion, Abdullah slammed the Centre over the three farm laws. He said the Union government is in the "grip of industrialists and that is why they want to sacrifice farmers". "Today, we are seeing that farmers are dying on roads," he said, adding that the day will come when the government will have to bow down before the protesting farmers. Touching upon the scrapping of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, he said not even a single person got a job despite two years passing after the decision. He said the Centre had promised 50,000 jobs in Kashmir.
Former Union minister Birender Singh also praised the late Devi Lal and recalled his works for the welfare of people. He said though it has been claimed that hundreds became millionaires in the past some years, there was no "crorepati" among farmers, who produced more foodgrain during the time of coronavirus. A few people have control over the country's wealth, gold, silver and diamonds, he said.
Former Haryana CM Om Prakash Chautala also supported the ongoing farmers' stir. He claimed following the Ellenabad byelection, the present BJP-JJP coalition government in the state will "fall" and there will be a "mid-term poll". INLD''s lone MLA Abhay Singh Chautala had resigned from the Ellenabad seat to protest three farm laws. He urged people to strengthen the Indian National Lok Dal while promising employment to the youth.
In recent weeks, Chautala has been meeting several like-minded political leaders in a bid to forge a third front. Earlier this month, he had claimed that people of the country were upset with the BJP government and asserted that a third front will soon be formed at the national level.
TALLEST STATUE OF CH. DEVI LAL ON DELHI-MUMBAI HIGHWAY
Meanwhile the JJP unveiled a 42 feet high staute of Late Ch. Devi Lal on his 108th birth anniversary in Nuh district of Haryana. On this occasion, National President of the party Ajay Singh Chautala, Deputy CM Dushyant Chautala and other senior leaders participated in the Havan-yagya. Addressing the gathering, Ajay Singh Chautala said JJP today in alliance with BJP is working for the benefit of farmers, laborers and youth. He said that the Coalition government has reserved 75% jobs for the local youth in private sector and the government has also taken the decision to provide examination centres in the same district as the applicant for the benefit of the youth of the state. Deputy CM Dushyant Chautala said that the tallest statue of Jannayak is a symbol of unity.
The Deputy CM said that in the last 10 months some people associated with political parties have been trying to mislead the farmers. He said that such people are saying that the mandis will be closed, MSP will be stopped and that farmers' lands will be usurped. He said that I guarantee you that neither the lands will be usurped nor the mandis and MSP will be stopped. He said that if anything like that happens, then he and all the JJP MLA s will not stay on their posts and will resign in a moment. He said that the farmers rights are the highest priority for the party, adding that special survey will be done for the damage to crops of rice, cotton, sunflower etc due to rains and will be reimbursed.
