Farmers Movement Archive

HT interview: Political thought process behind farmers’ agitation, says INLD supremo OP Chautala

Out of jail after serving 10-year imprisonment in a job recruitment scandal, former Haryana chief minister and Indian National Lok Dal supremo Om Prakash Chautala, 86, faces the daunting challenge of reviving his party’s dwindling political graph hit as much by a string of electoral reverses since 2004 as by a cleavage in the once-formidable Chaudhary Devi Lal clan. Though still barred from contesting elections, the Jat chieftan has lost no time in throwing his lot behind the ongoing farmers’ stir against three central farm laws – seen as a part of his gameplan to regain the lost ground in the Jatland. In a freewheeling interview to Hindustan Times on Wednesday, Chautala spoke about the current political landscape and the road ahead while exuding confidence in his organising skills to bounce back before the 2024 Lok Sabha and state assembly elections. Edited excerpts: How much the split within the INLD has dented your long-term political goals? Politics is not about profit or loss. It is true that some selfish individuals deserted us. They are repentant now. Many such individuals are joining us back. But your vote share went down significantly after the split in INLD and formation of Dushyant Chautala’s JJP. How do you plan to repair the damage? The INLD workers did not let us down. Their efforts strengthened the party. My job is now to visit each and every village to reinvigorate the organization. The INLD has been out of power since 2004. Why has the party’s base shrunk? Everything can’t be judged from poll point of view. Our party in fact has strengthened. We are not worried about ups and downs. We were on the course to form the government in 2019 but were hampered by the betrayal (of Dushyant) and the subsequent split in the INLD. Your grandson Dushyant Chautala claims to be the flag bearers of Chaudhary Devi Lal’s legacy. What’s your take?There is no dispute over the legacy of Chaudhary Devi Lal. Certain selfish individuals used his name to serve their own political ends. People will never forgive such individuals. Those who used to swear by Devi Lal’s name and considered him as their grandfather adopted a new grandfather, Ram Kumar Gautam (JJP MLA from Narnaund). But the new fake grandfather has deserted them. Are you still hurt over the way Dushyant, and his father split your party? Have you forgiven them? Ups and downs are a part of politics. We are not hostile against anyone if they are willing to accept their mistakes. Is there a possibility that the Chautala family can reunite? My party is my family and its united. If anyone wants to join us with nation’s interest in mind, they are welcome. Would you make a Ghar Wapsi call to INLD deserters who left you for JJP or any other outfit? In fact, lot of such deserters are coming back in our fold. They have realised their follies and want to make amends. What’s your take on the BJPs post-poll alliance with Dushyant Chautala’s outfit? This is an unprincipled alliance and symbolises politics of opportunism. It has been forged just to fulfil selfish political ends. It will collapse the day it fails to serve the self-interests of the two allies. How do you view the political situation in the state particularly in light of the farmers’ protest? It’s not merely farmers’ agitation. It’s a mass movement involving farmers, workers, employees and all castes and communities. The agitation has acted as a bond for all communities. This agitation will bring a big change in the political scene. What’s the way to resolve the ongoing farmers’ agitation? This agitation has bonded communities together. Forces propagating caste politics will get defeated. What will be the outcome of this struggle is something which future beholds. Farmer organisations have given limited access to politicians during the agitation by not allowing them to share the dais. How do you view it? Do you really think this agitation is progressing without the support of political parties? There is massive support from all quarters. For instance, INLD workers have set up two hospitals for providing free of cost treatment to the protestors. There is a political thought process behind this agitation. The INLD had been a BJP ally and formed government in coalition. How different was the BJP then? Like-minded people come together in politics. If you can recall, the INLD had given unconditional support to the BJP led government at the Centre. We did so because we were impressed by Atal Behari Vajpayee’s thought process and personality. He was an incomparable person. You have been talking about forming a third front at the national level. Do you think it is realistic in current circumstances? Nothing is impossible in politics. People are fed up with this regime and are ready to make a change. But there is no alternative. I am planning nationwide visits to meet leaders of likeminded political parties for the formation of a third front. How do you view the rise of the BJP, once a marginal player, in state politics? People trusted the BJP and overwhelmingly voted for them. But they have broken that trust. It’s a worthless regime. Since the ruling BJP-JJP MLAs and MPs are unable to venture out anywhere in the state due to constant opposition from farmers, they blame the opposition parties for fuelling this. What’s your reaction? The alliance has failed to live up to the expectations of the people. There is widespread discontentment amongst the villagers. How do you view the polarisation of non-Jat communities in the state which powered the BJP to poll victories? Has there been a decline in the influence of Jat community? There is no such polarisation of non-Jats or Jats. We are a secular nation. It’s only the people’s power and influence which decide poll outcomes. My party counts on the Jan Shakti, not Jat Shakti.

Hindustan Times

29-07-2021

Chandigarh