Farmers Protest: BJP getting isolated in Haryana, but no immediate threat to govt

New Delhi (2 Min Read): Amid the farmers protests, the BJP is getting isolated in Haryana after the withdrawal of support by an independent MLA from the government and getting sermons from alliance partner JJP. However, there is no impending threat to the government led by Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar.

The Congress is trying to fish in troubled waters but is not in a position to destabilize the government, said a party leader as the BJP has the support of the JJP and many Independents.

Meanwhile, former Congress Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda has demanded that “all the cases registered against the farmers should be withdrawn or else they will be scrapped when our government will be formed”.

Haryana coalition partner, the Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) on Tuesday said the Centre should give in writing an assurance on the minimum support price (MSP) for crops.

The party’s stand assumes significance as its support is critical for the survival of the just over one-year-old government led by Manohar Lal Khattar. The BJP has just 40 members in the 90-member Assembly and needs the JJP’s 10 seats for a majority.

JJP chief and former MP, Ajay Singh Chautala, told the media that “When Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union Agriculture Minister are repeatedly saying the MSP will continue, what is the harm in adding that line.”

Besides the JJP, seven independent MLAs had also extended support to the BJP, helping it reach a tally of 57 seats.

However, Independent legislator Sombir Sangwan on Tuesday withdrew his support to the state government over the farmers’ agitation.

In a statement, he said atrocities are being committed on the farmers who are agitating in support of their demands.

“I cannot remain associated with the government in the present circumstances and decided to part ways with the state government,” said Sangwan.

The protests entered the seventh day on Wednesday, with the farmers from Punjab and Haryana continuing to protest peacefully at the Delhi-Haryana Tikri border.

Thousands of farmers have camped at the Tikri border to protest against the controversial farm bills passed by Parliament in September this year.

The leaders were continuously addressing the farmers on their grievances, demands and expectations from the government.

The farmers prepared their own food and distributed it among themselves.

On Tuesday evening, the farmer leaders held talks with the government. However, the talks ended inconclusively. The government has decided to again call the farmers for a meeting on December 3.

The farmers started marching to Delhi as part of their ‘Dilli Chalo’ programme on November 26. They reached the Delhi border on Friday and have been camping there since then.

By IANS

(The story has not been edited by EP Web Desk except for changing the headline)

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