With farmers’ agitation gathering momentum across the country over Mandsaur’s firing incident, the farming community and opposition parties in Haryana have also geared up to intensify their protest against the BJP-led Central and Haryana Governments for neglecting farmers’ issues.
Farmers under the banner of Bharatiya Kisan Union, Haryana unit have announced to block national highways in the State on June 16 to protest against the BJP Government.
Apart from this, various farmers’ outfits in the State have begun dharnas in various parts of Haryana demanding implementation of Swaminanthan report and loan waiver besides dismissal of BJP Government in Madhya Pradesh following the death of six farmers in a Police firing during a protest.
The farmers held protest demonstrations and dharnas on Monday at Ambala, Hisar, Jind, Panchkula, Kaithal, Kurukshetra, Sirsa, Rohtak and Yamunanagar to press for their demands.
Gurnam Singh Chaduni, Haryana chief of Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) while talking to The Pioneer said they had decided to block national highways passing through Ambala, Rohtak, Panipat in Haryana on June 16 for three hours from 12 pm to 3 pm to protest against the BJP-led Central and Haryana Governments.
From June 13 to 15, dharnas would continue in various parts of Haryana demanding implementation of Swaminanthan report and loan waiver for farmers, said Chaduni.
Shamsher Singh Dahiya, chief of BKU (A), another faction of Bhartiya Kisan Union said dharna protests would be held outside the offices of Deputy Commissioners in entire Haryana on June 19. A memorandum from each district of the State would be submitted to President Pranab Mukherjee demanding implementation of Swaminanthan report besides other demands, he added.
On the other hand, opposition parties — Congress and INlD — have also decided to step up the offensive against the State and Central Government.
Haryana Congress has announced to kick off a State-wide agitation to mount pressure on the BJP Government to implement the Swaminanthan report and announce loan waiver for farmers.
Former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda has convened a meeting of current and former MlAs, MPs, senior party leaders in New Delhi on Tuesday to chalk out a strategy to launch a campaign against the BJP Government and raise the issues of the farmers.
Hooda had recently said that the farmers’ unrest in Mandsaur “should not be seen in isolation” as there is anger among the farming community because the BJP has retracted on its poll promise to implement the Swaminathan Commission report.
Indian National lok Dal, Haryana’s main opposition party has decided to convene a state executive party meeting on June 14 to devise a strategy to corner the BJP Government on farmers’ issues. The party has also announced to hold a protest on June 14 against the ruling BJP for Mandsaur firing incident.
leader of opposition in Haryana Assembly and INlD’s senior leader, Abhay Singh Chautala has condemned the BJP saying that the party had promised implementation of Swaminanthan report during general elections while the party is now killing farmers who are fighting for their rights. Chautala also accused the BJP Government of turning a deaf ear to the problems of farmers and termed the party as “anti-farmer”.