The Manohar lal Khattar led BJP Government in Haryana faced a major embarrassment on Thursday when the opposition parties, Congress and INlD boycotted the Haryana Swarna Jayanti Sammelan accusing the State Government of looting the farmers, and failing to act on key issues including SYl canal, Jat reservation and one rank one pension (OROP).
leader of opposition in Haryana Assembly and INlD’s senior leader Abhay Singh Chautala and Congress MlA Geeta Bhukkal made a scathing attack on Haryana Government, over the issues of SYl canal, unemployment, Jat agitation, OROP, crop insurance scheme among others, before walking out of the event along with their party members, leaving the State Government red-faced.
It was an awkward moment for the Chief Minister Manohar lal, who kept his calm and remained seated along with other dignitaries on the dias, as the opposition leaders hijacked the platform to tear the Government to shreds on several issues.
Haryana Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki, Haryana Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kanwar Pal, Union Ministers Birender Singh and Krishan Pal Gurjar were also present in the Haryana Vidhan Sabha Swarna Jayanti Sammelan held in Panchkula on Thursday.
Mincing no words and making the Prime Minister Narendra Modi a direct target of attack, INlD’s Chautala said, “The people of the State were expecting big announcements from the Prime Minister over the SYl issue and to provide employment to youth. But contrary to government’s claim, the people did not get anything from the Gurugram function, which was reduced to a BJP show.”
Criticising the PM and Chief Minister for their silence over Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal’s statement that he would not given even a drop of water to Haryana, irrespective of the Supreme Court’s decision on SYl issue, Chautala said, “It is really unfortunate that not even a single word has been spoken by the present State Government to condemn the statement of Badal, which he gave in the presence of BJP chief Amit Shah and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.”
Raking up the issue of Jat reservation, Chautala alleged that the State Government had promised reservation to the community after the violent quota agitation earlier this year but it has failed to fulfil the promise.
Hinting at BJP MP Raj Kumar Saini, without taking his name, the INlD leader said that we had also expected strict action against those who had tried to disturb the peace and harmony in the state with their statements, but again we were left disappointed.
Continuing his tirade against the State Government, Chautala said, “At a time when the farmers are being looted through crop insurance scheme, paddy procurement scam, soldiers and youth are suffering, the State Government is spending a huge amount of Rs 1700 crore to celebrate swarna jayanti year. Considering this, we have decided to boycott this event and would continue to boycott other such events organised to celebrate the state’s golden jubilee, he said.
He went onto say that not even a single suggestion given by him has been accepted by the Haryana Government to celebrate swarna jayanti.
Before walking out of the event venue, he also warned the State Government of going to every village and apprise the State populace about how the Government is wasting the public money in party’s functions.
While talking to the mediapersons later, Chautala also announced to bring 'kam roko prastav' (no work motion) to discuss farmers issues in Haryana Vidhan Sabha’s Swarna Jayanti session starting on Friday.
The Congress also made an equally scathing attack on the BJP raising the issues of violence during Jat quota agitation earlier this year, suicide of ex-serviceman Subedar Ram Kishan Grewal, farmers suicide, SYl canal, unemployment and strike by State Government employees.
Blaming the BJP Government for dividing communities during Jat agitation, Congress leader and former Cabinet Minister Geeta Bhukkal said, “We demand an inquiry by sitting Supreme Court judge into the violent quota agitation in February.”
Targeting Prime Minister Modi, she said, “Everybody wants to know is this the implementation of Gujarat model in Haryana where the people are divided on caste or community lines.”
The Congress leader also slammed the BJP Government for "playing the cow politics “ and doing nothing for the welfare of cows in the state.
Condemning the ruling for politicising the suicide of an ex-serviceman, Bhukkal said, “With farmers and soldiers being forced to commit suicide under present regime, we announce to boycott the function.” Following this, she alongwith her party members walked out of the auditorium.
Not only the opposition parties but the ex-MlAs and MPs also criticised the BJP Government for failing to provide necessary facilities to the former elected representatives to attend the Sammelan. Some of the former MlAs complained about not getting lodging facilities and being paid only Rs 11, 000 for making all the arrangements by themselves.
While the event was organized to seek suggestions from current and former MPs and MlAs of Haryana to celebrate state’s golden jubilee year, the embarrassment at the event brought out the government's failure to win over the opposition to jointly observe year long swarna jayanti celebrations.
The setback came just two days after the opening ceremony of Haryana’s swarna jayanti celebrations on November 1 attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had praised the Chief Minister and his team for various initiatives.
Responding to the allegations of the opposition later, Chief Minister Manohar lal said that the swarna jayanti celebrations of Haryana are not a programme of Haryana Government or of any party.
Referring to the violent Jat agitation, he said that this is not the occasion to discuss the Jat stir.
Reacting to the boycott of opposition parties, he said, “They left because they just want to speak and did not want to listen to anyone.”
Urging the political parties in the state not to politicise the year-long Swarna Jayanti celebrations of Haryana, he said, “Programmes would be organized throughout the year and all over the state, to mark the celebrations where people who have made outstanding contribution in different walks of life, would be honoured.”