Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Mar 10: Even risking farmers’ wrath, the BJP-JJP coalition government in Haryana led by Manohar Lal Khattar managed to keep its ranks intact to defeat the opposition Congress-sponsored no confidence motion against the government.
The government alliance received 55 votes against the motion to 32 by the Congress who sponsored the motion. The voting outcome proved that the Congress failed to break the alliance ranks having all its votes, 40 of the BJP, 10 by the Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) led by the deputy chief minister Dushyant Chautala and five independents supporting the BJP-led government. The Congress has 31 members in the 90-member state Assembly and received vote in favour of is motion from one of the two independents who had announced withdrawing support to the government in view of the farmers’ stir.
The Congress had moved the motion hoping to divide the BJP-JJP ranks as several of its MLAs were said to be in favour of moving out of the coalition disfavoured by the agitating farmers. The farmers had been running a tirade against the BJP government at the centre and had also been boycotting the state BJP and the JJP leaders for the alleged “high-handed actions” against the farming community squatting on the borders of Delhi for more than 100 days.
With the farmers saying that they were prepared to continue the agitation demanding repeal of the three farm laws as long as the Narendra Modi government remained on saddle or was forced to repeal the contentious acts, the Congress hoped to wedge a division in the ruling alliance ranks forcing the JJP to withdraw support failed to materialize. The JJP and the five independents continued to vote with the BJP despite risking inviting the farmers’ wrath in rural Haryana.
The former chief minister and presently the leader of the opposition in the state Assembly, Bhupinder Singh Hooda had moved the no-confidence motion for, what he claimed, to “expose the anti-farmers’ stand of the BJP and the JJP” amid widespread anger over the Centre’s farm laws. In parts of the state, the farmers have boycotted the elected MLAs who are supporting the Central laws.
The voting took place after nearly six hours of debate, during which Khattar claimed that his government has a keen eye on farmers’ welfare and had “never used force” against them. “Force means lathicharge and firing….yes we did dig trenches….used water canon….to stop them from interstate movement,” he said, adding, “Don’t take our patience as our weakness,” he said.
Hooda said Khattar’ s inability to hoist the flag in Panipat on January 26 indicated its unpopularity among people. Khattar’s chopper was not allowed to land by protesting farmers. He also reminded the government that agriculture was a state subject, saying, “The moment I speak of farm laws, they (the government) says it is Central laws”.
Earlier speakers from the BJP ranks had demanded that the Congress prove that force was used on farmers. Cabinet minister Kanwar Pal Gujjar said, “Share proof of lathicharge… If we have named any farmer as Khalistani and Pakistani, then do share the names of such leaders”.
The senior Congress leader Raghuvir Singh Kadian said the no-confidence motion would make it clear who stands with farmers and who was against them. “Entry boards have been put up outside villages banning entry of BJP and JJP leaders while Khap Panchayats have given social boycott calls. Never before in history has it happened before that the chief minister and deputy CM’s helicopters are not being allowed to land in villages,” reminded Kadian.
The party’s target was particularly the JJP – which has a considerable following among farmers. Kadian said MLAs of JJP, which had contested the 2019 assembly polls against the BJP before forging an alliance, should examine their conscience.
“Chaudhary Devi Lal (great grandfather of Dushyant Chautala) dedicated his entire life for the farmers’ cause. The JJP leaders should look in their inner conscience before voting,” said Kadian.
It immediately drew a jibe from the great grandson. “Please remind us when Chaudhary Devi Lal was in alliance with you people,” he retorted. Playing down the ongoing farmers’ protest in the state, he added: “When Hooda was Chief Minister, who was publicly slapped? Ink was thrown at Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal. So protests do happen and I’m saying this in context of what the opposition kept saying that we are not allowed to enter our constituencies”.
In November, when the farmers started their march to Delhi, the Khattar government had started a crackdown. The police had dug trenches on the road and countered the protesting farmers with batons, tear gas and water cannons.
The farmers are protesting against three laws that they fear will take away the Minimum Support Prices offered by the government and leave them open to manipulation by corporates. Though the Centre has repeatedly denied this, the farmers want the laws struck off.
Earlier speaking against the motion, Khattar said he was grateful to the Congress for giving him an opportunity to tell everyone about his government.
“No-Confidence is Congress’ culture. When the party loses polls, there is no-confidence on EVMs, for surgical strikes, it asked for evidence. Discussion for the sake of discussion should not take place. If Congress is in power, all is well, but if it’s BJP, then not,” Khattar said.