Farmers Movement Archive

On Day 7, farm agitation heats up Haryana assembly debate

CHANDIGARH: Proceedings during the seventh day of the Haryana assembly’s budget session witnessed heated excahnges on Tuesday as MLAs from BJP-JJP coalition and Congress hit out at each other over the ongoing farmers’ protests against the three laws introduced last year by the Centre. Congress MLAs Induraj Narwal, Kiran Choudhry and Aftab Ahmed, and minister Kanwar Pal Gujjar, and BJP’s Aseem Goel and Abhay Singh Yadav kept the atmosphere charged up. So did, independent MLA from Mehem, Balraj Kundu, Discussions began with Ambala City MLA, Aseem Goel trying to to raise the protest outside his house issue. He circulated pictures of Congress leaders near the protest site, accusing them of doublespeak. Then Congress MLA from Baroda, Induraj Narwa started speaking on the plight of farmers at Singhu and Tikri border. He accused CM Manohar Lal Khattar-led BJP-JJP government of snapping water and electricity connections to the protesters. Narwal praised political mentor and leader of opposition Bhupinder Hooda and his Rajya Sabha MP son, Deepender, for contribution farm stir. “In all, 300 farmers have died on the borders, tut government does not acknowledge their deaths. Even our leaders have started giving financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh each to the kin of those who died. Government should announce a compensation of Rs 50 lakh each to such families and a one government job,” said Narwal. Haryana parliamentary affairs minister Kanwar Pal Gujjar triggered a new argument by saying that these farmers were old and died a natural death. This led to a war of words between Gujjar and Hooda. Gujjar accused Congress leaders of sponsoring the agitation and shared a picture of Ambala incident. Hooda hit back, saying maintaining law and order was the job of government. “You are trying to pass the failure on us. Even after 300 deaths, we have not heard a single word from this government,” he said . Choudhry joined in by saying that protests were a right of everyone, but Gujjar wanted to gag the voice of farmers. Yadav, who brought the issue of loss of business and trade due to farmers agitations and sealed borders, claimed that a person from a special community is supporting. This triggered the ruckus again as Congress MLAs termed it as BJP’s way of giving caste colour to the farmers agitations. This led to direct arguments among Yadav, Kadian, Hooda and Kiran Choudhary.

The Times of India

2021-03-17

Chandigarh