Farmers Movement Archive

After stoic silence, JJP tries to portray itself as farmers’ sympathiser

Chandigarh: Facing flak from farmers for supporting the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government that introduced the ‘contentious’ agriculture laws, the Jannayak Janata Party (JJP), led by deputy chief minister Dushyant Chautala, has been making all efforts to showcase itself as farmers’ sympathiser. The party leaders are not leaving any opportunity to express solidarity with farmers under one pretext or the other. The party, which emerged as popular regional outfit in the 2019 state assembly polls, is on the firing line for being the key ally of Manohar Lal Khattar led BJP government. There was some criticism of JJP when it had joined hands with BJP, when it managed to win 10 assembly seats in its very first election, and became part of coalition government. The criticism gotten more strong when the party leaders maintained a stoic silence even as the farmers’ protested against the agri-laws. However, since the launching of farmers agitation in September last year, when for the first time farmers had launched protest in Pipli in Kurukshetra, the JJP leaders have started to make statements now in favour of farmers. On September 17 last year, JJP leader Digvijay Chautala, younger brother of deputy chief minister Dushyant Chautala, apologised to the farmers for September 10 incident when the state police resorted to lathi charge on the farmers protesting at Pipli. On December 4, Digvijay along with party’s state chief, Nishan Singh met Haryana home minister Anil Vij demanding withdrawal of criminal cases against the farmers registered at Kurukshetra. On December 1, Dushyant’s father and JJP chief Ajay Chautala sought written guarantee from the Centre on MSP. Again, on January 29, Digvijay defended farmers’ leader Rakesh Tikait, who has been booked by Delhi Police after Republic Day violence in Delhi. According to political analysts, JJP may face more loss than its ally BJP in future elections because the majority of its voters are from rural belt that have been vigorously supporting the on-going farmers’ agitation. According to R S Chaudhary, senior INLD leader and former bureaucrat, JJP leaders know that they have lost ground in the state and are saving face by issuing occasional statements. “Problem with JJP is that if they quit coalition government, the BJP would open inquiries against them as they know their weaknesses and secrets. JJP could have retrieved the ground had they quit the alliance in the beginning of the farmers’ agitation,” Chaudhary said. He also questioned as to why JJP is using Digvijay to make such statements instead of Dushyant himself coming forward and addressing the issues. JJP’s attempts to showcase sympathy with farmers Sept 17, 2020 | Digvijay Chautala apologised to the farmers for September 10 incidents when the state police resorted to lathi charge on the farmers protesting at Pipli against the new agriculture laws Dec 1, 2020 | Dushyant’s father Ajay Chautala made a statement asking the central government to give in writing about MSP guarantee to the farmers Dec 4, 2020 | Digvijay along with party’s state chief Nishan Singh met Haryana home minister Anil Vij demanding withdrawal of criminal cases against the farmers Dec 7, 2020 | Digvijay asserted that all 10 JJP MLAs and the whole party stood in solidarity with the farmers. He said India is a country of food growers and most of the population is connected with farming families Dec 12, 2020 | Dushyant Chautala met with the Union ministers, including Rajnath Singh, Piyush Goyal and Narender Tomar and claimed that he has made an appeal to soon form a consensus on farmers demands. He also expressed hopes that the ongoing impasse to end in the next 24 to 48 hours. Jan 29 | Digvijay defended farmers’ leader Rakesh Tikait who has been booked by Delhi Police after Republic Day violence in Delhi. He said Tikait is the son of the country’s most respected and legendary farmers’ leader Mahender Singh Tikait and it would be wrong to call him anti-national

The Times of India

2021-02-02

Chandigarh