High drama was witnessed outside the residence of Haryana Chief Minister Manohar lal Khattar on Wednesday as Indian National lok Dal (INlD) delegation led by leader of Opposition and senior party leader Abhay Singh Chautala tried to meet the CM and submit a memorandum on their demands.
Abhay Chautala along with his party leaders raised slogans against the BJP-led Haryana Government when they were asked by security personnel to go through security check and submit their mobile phones to enter CM’s residence. A heated argument ensued between Chautala and security personnel following this and INlD leaders decided to protest outside Chief Minister’s house.
When denied entry for not going through the security checks, Abhay Chautala, angrily retorted, “I am leader of opposition and the party delegation includes MlAs, senior party leaders...Why would we submit our mobile phones and go through security checks. This is an insult to us.”
The INlD delegation had come to meet the Chief Minister and submit a memorandum to him after party’s State executive meeting, which had deliberated upon a series of issues including killing of six farmers in Mandsaur’s firing incident, non-implementation of Swaminanthan report, worsening law and order situation in Haryana, increasing crime rate against women and shortage of power and water supply in the State.
Chautala, while talking to the mediapersons outside CM’s residence said, “It seems that the Chief Minister is really worried about his security. This is really unfortunate that leader of Opposition and public representatives are being treated like this at CM’s house.”
The INlD had prepared two memorandums on various issues. While one was to be forwarded to the Prime Minister demanding immediate implementation of Swaminanthan report, another one had to be submitted to the Chief Minister highlighting farmers’ issues, law and order situation, shortage of power and water supply in Haryana.
Earlier, the INlD members were stopped by Chandigarh Police near their party office in Sector 3 here when they were taking out a protest march towards the Chief Minister’s residence. During this time also, a heated altercation ensued between the INlD leaders and police.
led by Abhay Chautala, state party president Ashok Arora, all INlD MlAs, MP Charanjit Singh Rori, youth leader Digvijay Chautala among others were present during the protest march.
Following the intervention of RK Khullar, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, a small party delegation led by Chautala decided to meet Chief Minister at his residence.
However, when stopped at the entrance of CM’s house by security personnel, the party leaders alleged that they were humiliated and resolved not to meet the Chief Minister at his residence in the future. The delegation returned from outside the CM’s residence and submitted the memorandum to RK Khullar.
“The INlD leaders had not come here to threaten the CM. We had come here to meet him and raise issues related to the farmers but we felt humiliated in the manner we are treated at the entrance of CM’s house,” a visibly furious, Abhay Chautala told the mediapersons.
He added that the party members will not attend any meeting convened by the Chief Minister at his residence in the future.
Chautala said that in the memorandum submitted for the Prime Minister, the INlD has demanded immediate implementation of Swaminathan Commission report, farm loan waiver and dismissal of the current Madhya Pradesh government.
In the memorandum which was to be given to the Chief Minister, the party has demanded crop loan waiver for Haryana farmers, steps to improve the law and order situation and also pointed out shortage of power and water supply in the state.
Condemning the Mandsaur’s firing incident, Ashok Arora, Haryana INlD president, while talking to the mediapersons said that a group of party leaders led by Abhay Chautala will go to Mandsaur in Madhya Pradesh on June 17 to meet the affected farmers.
INlD delegation will also submit a memorandum to President Pranab Mukhejee demanding dismissal of Madhya Pradesh government, implementation of Swaminanthan report and jobs and compensation for the families of six farmers who lost their lives in a police firing during a protest in Mandsaur.
During the party’s executive meeting, the INlD members has condemned the BJP led Haryana Government for the deteriorating law and order situation and shortage of power in the state, added Arora.