The opposition parties, including the Congress and the Indian National lok Dal (INlD), on Friday lent their support to the agitating farmers in Haryana.
While the Congress led by former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda organised a Kisan Panchayat at Kurukshetra, Haryana’s principal opposition party-INlD held protest dharnas outside headquarters of deputy commissioners across the state.
The senior Congress leader, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, who was accompanied by other party leaders at Kurukshetra lashed out at the BJP Government for not fulfilling its poll promises.
Hooda while addressing the Kisan Panchayat said, “The BJP had promised implementation of Swaminathan report before 2014 general elections and assembly polls in Haryana. The farming community had elected the BJP government with high expectation... However, after coming to the power, the BJP forgot about farmers and retracted on its poll promises.”
The Congress demands immediate implementation of Swaminathan report besides loan waive for farmers, he said.
Continuing his tirade against the ruling BJP, he said that death of six farmers in a police firing in Madhya Pradesh’s Mandsaur is an unfortunate incident. While on one hand, the BJP has failed to keep its promises, it is also indulging in misdeed of firing at innocent farmers, he added.
Hooda said that the Congress will continue its fight against the wrongdoings of BJP Government. If the government fails to implement Swaminathan report, the party will intensify its protest, he added
To lend support to the farming community, Hooda will lead protest dharna at Sirsa on June 21, Rewari on June 25, Sonipat on July 1, Jind onJuly 5, Nuh on July 7.
On the other hand, the INlD on Friday held protest outside headquarters of deputy commissioners across the state and submit a memorandum to DCs to be given to President Pranab Mukherjee demanding dismissal of Madhya Pradesh Government and implementation of Swaminathan report.
The INlD workers burnt an effigy of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan during their protest in various parts of Haryana.
Ashok Arora, INlD Haryana president, who led the protest in Kurukshetra said that the BJP has betrayed the farming community. After making big promises to the farmers during 2014 polls, the BJP did nothing for them after coming to the power, alleged Arora.
A group of party leaders led by leader of opposition in Haryana Assembly, Abhay Chautala will go to Mandsaur on June 17 to meet the affected farmers. The party has demanded compensation and job to the next of kin to those who lost their lives during the police firing in Mandsaur, he added. INlD Hisar MP Dushyant Chautala led the party’s protest in his constituency while youth leader Digvijay Chautala led the protest in Jhajjar.