Crackdown ripples shake Haryana government - BJP coalition feels the heat of farmers’ protest

People climb a tower for a vantage point at the farmers’ mahapanchayat in Haryana’s Jind on Wednesday. : PTI

J.P. Yadav   |   TT   |   New Delhi   |    04.02.21 : The BJP-led Haryana government has come under renewed strain with the farmers’ protest receiving impassioned support in the aftermath of the Centre’s crackdown, insiders said. 

Ally Jannayak Janata Party, which sustains the Manohar Lal Khattar government, is facing increased pressure from its core farmers’ constituency over the past few days to dump the BJP, according to the sources. 

Both the BJP and the JJP had hoped that the protests would peter out after the chaos during the farmers’ tractor rally on Republic Day. Contrary to their expectations, the protests have made an electrifying turnaround and now seem to be beyond the government’s control.

“Yes, many MLAs are finding it extremely difficult to face the people. We hope the issue gets over soon,” an office-bearer of the JJP said. 

Many BJP MLAs too are not able to visit their constituencies due to anger among farmers. Chief minister Khattar and his deputy Dushyant Chautala have had to cancel events after facing intense anger in their constituencies. 

The BJP had announced campaigns to counter the “misinformation” on the new farm laws but hasn’t been able to carry them out. 

Instead of any signs of ebbing, the mahapanchayats of farmer leaders have been drawing massive crowds — the latest being at Jind on Wednesday — unsettling the ruling coalition. 

Thousands, including a large number of women, attended the Jind mahapanchayat to be counted as angry voices who are not ready for anything less than the repeal of the “anti-farmer” laws.

Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait, whose tearful message has turned the tide of the movement, and other leaders addressed the meeting and resolutions were passed to stress that there would be no wavering from the demand for the scrapping of the laws. 

Speaking at the mahapanchayat, Tikait warned the government of consequences if the farm laws were not repealed. 

“We have so far talked about ‘bill wapsi’ (repeal of the laws). The government should listen carefully. What will you do if the youths call for ‘gaddi wapsi’ (removal from power)?” NDTV quoted Tikait as having told the congregation.

The government had perceived the farmers’ protest as a movement restricted to Punjab with marginal support in Haryana. But the agitation has only gone from strength to strength. In the aftermath of the January 26 fiasco and the government’s move to suppress the movement, the protests have spread to western Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. 

Although JJP legislators have so far managed to stick with the party, many district-level leaders have been forced by agitators to quit and join the movement. 

On Tuesday, the JJP’s Karnal district president, Inderjit Singh Goraya, left the party in support of the farmers and accused Chautala of not standing up for the peasants. 

“Dushyant Chautala should have stood by the farmers like Devi Lal (his great grandfather and former chief minister and deputy Prime Minister),” Goraya said. He urged the other MLAs of the party to quit in protest. 

In the recent past, many JJP and BJP office-bearers, including a former BJP MLA, have resigned to show solidarity with the farmers.

The BJP has 40 MLAs in the 90-member Assembly, while the JJP has 10 and the Congress 30. While the BJP relies mainly on the non-Jat voters in Haryana, the JJP draws strength from the Jats, the dominant agrarian community. 

Since the farmers’ protest at Delhi’s borders began in November-end, Chautala has met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other central ministers. He has, however, been keeping silent for the past several days with insiders claiming he is in a bind.

Internally, BJP leaders claim that the Haryana government is safe. “No JJP MLA will quit. We have taken care of their needs,” a Haryana BJP leader said. 

Sources said many posts in various boards and corporations were lying vacant and the JJP legislators had been assured appointment as heads of these bodies after the farmers’ protest dies down. 

The BJP, however, has been facing pressure also from the principal Opposition, the Congress. Congress stalwart and former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda is said to be trying to bring down the government over the farmers’ issue. He plans to introduce a no-confidence motion against the Khattar government during the upcoming budget session.