Farmers Movement Archive

Ask your MLA to help topple Haryana govt: Sanyukta Kisan Morcha

NEW DELHI: In yet another political step after deciding to campaign against BJP candidates in poll-bound states, the Sanyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), the farmer unions’ umbrella body spearheading the agitation against the agri laws, appealed to people in Haryana to approach their MLAs to ensure that the BJP-led alliance government in the state is defeated in the no-confidence motion on March 10. The idea behind this move is to put the BJP’s central leadership under pressure even as the alliance in Haryana appears comfortable despite a few MLAs’ open support to the farmers’ agitation. “Let the MLAs of Haryana know that those who do not stand with farmers in this crucial juncture of the farmers’ movement will be taught a lesson by people in future,” the SKM said in a statement. The SKM’s move is in addition to its earlier decision to hold meetings/rallies against BJP candidates in poll-bound states, including West Bengal and Kerala. It had announced that farmers’ representatives would seek votes in favour of political parties contesting against BJP. The opposition Congress in Haryana had moved a noconfidence motion against the Manohar Lal Khattar government on first day of the budget session of the assembly last week. The BJP-Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) alliance has a majority with 50 MLAs in the 90-member assembly. The current strength of House is, however, 88 with two vacancies. The INLD’s Abhay Chautala had resigned in January in solidarity with the farmers over their demands to repeal the central farm laws and legal guarantee to purchase at minimum support price (MSP) while Congress MLA Pradeep Chaudhary was disqualified after his conviction in a decade old riot and assault case. The BJP has 40 MLAs while JJP has 10 MLAs in the House. Among remaining 38, the Congress has 30 MLAs, Haryana Lokhit Party has one MLA while seven are independents. The Alliance has support of five of the seven independents and the Haryana Lokhit Party in the House where it needs a simple majority of 45 members.

The Times of India

2021-03-08

India