Amid growing resentment among the farming community against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party over the three contentious farm laws, the saffron party in Haryana has embarked on its eight-day programme to reach out to the masses and make its presence felt across the State.
The State BJP unit has chalked out a plan to hold 22 programmes covering all districts to celebrate Dr Ambedkar Jayanti (April 14) during its eight-day contact exercise. The Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, his Cabinet Colleagues, BJP MPs, MLAs, former Ministers and senior party leaders would participate in these programmes.
The decision to hold district level programmes have been taken at a time when the BJP leaders are facing the wrath of farmers, who have called for the social boycott of the leaders over the issue of central agri laws.
The Chief Minister while holding a meeting of party district presidents recently had directed to hold a series of programmes to celebrate Ambedkar Jayanti across the state to sustain party’s pro-Dalit pitch and to gauge the public mood. The party has decided to involve prominent leaders at district level functions to establish a direct communication with people despite the ongoing farmers’ protest.
On the other hand, the farmers’ union have announced to hold protests against the leaders of BJP and its ally JJP during the scheduled programmes.
The Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar is himself scheduled to preside over a programme in Barauli village in Sonepat district while party state president OP Dhankar would participate at functions in Rohtak and Bhiwani districts on April 14. Deputy CM and JJP leader Dushyant Chautala is also scheduled to attend a programme in Rewari on Ambedkar Jayanti. Around eight district level programmes are planned to be held on April 14 while others would be held on April 15, 18 and 25. The programmes had begun on April 11 in the state.
Even as the saffron party has planned its ambitious contact programme amid COVID-19 pandemic to connect with the general public, the ongoing farmers’ movement acquiring new political dynamics would pose a major challenge for the party.
Only a day before, the farmers had shown black flags and raised anti-BJP slogans to protest against the state BJP president OP Dhankar, who was on his way to chair a programme to celebrate Ambedkar Jayanti in Kaithal district.
The incident was the latest in a series of protests by farmers against ruling BJP-JJP coalition leaders in Haryana.
Sanjay Sharma, Haryana BJP spokesperson while talking to The Pioneer said that the party will go ahead with the district level programmes planned to celebrate the 130th birth anniversary of Dr BR Ambedkar.
Despite the protest threats, the Chief Minister will attend the programme on April 14 in Barauli village in Sonepat district. Union Minister Rattan Lal Kataria is scheduled to preside over the celebrations at Panchkula, former Minister Capt Abhimanyu alongwith MP Sunita Duggal in Sirsa, former state BJP president Subhash Barala and Rajya Sabha MP DP Vats in Fatehabad, Union Minister Rao Inderjit Singh in Rewari, Union Minister Krishan Pal Gurjar in Faridabad among others. The MLAs will also be present during the functions aimed at celebrating Ambedkar Jayanti and reaching out to the people of the state, he added.
In the last ten days, the farmers have held strong protests against the Chief Minister in Rohtak, against Dushyant Chautala in Hisar, MP Nayab Saini in Kurukshetra, MP Sunita Duggal in Sirsa and other party leaders.
Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait has already announced that the Samyukta Kisan Morcha will not allow Chief Minister Manohar Lal to enter Barauli village for the event on April 14.
Haryana Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Gurnam Singh Chaduni maintained that the farmers will continue with their social boycott of the leaders of BJP and its allies.
This is not the battle of farmers alone but this is the struggle of the entire working class and followers of BR Ambedkar also. We will continue our peaceful protest against the leaders who have betrayed the farming community, he said.
Hundreds of farmers from northern states of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, have been camping at three Delhi border points for over four months now, demanding a repeal of the three agriculture reform laws enacted by the Centre in September last year