Opposition leaders queue up to join protesting farmers
YAMUNANAGAR: TheHaryanacabinet’s decision to de notify 1,019acre land acquired by the government for the construction of the Dad up ur-N al vic anal has proved to be shot in the arm for opposing parties, which are planning to intensify their attack on the ruling BJP by joining the protesting farmers.
With the affected farmers already pro testing under the banner of theBh ar ti ya Kisan Union (BKU) forthepastone-and-a-half months, the opposition parties’ leaders have been making a beeline for Yam una na gar extending their support to the farmers.
The canal row has wide ned the rift within the Ha ryan a Congress leaders, who have decided to meet the farmers separately. Whereas Cap Ajay Yadav, Kumari Selja and Randeep Surjewala have already joined the protest by reaching the farmers, now former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda has decided to extend his support to the farmers and join the protest on Monday.
The INLDh as also announced to launch a stir over the issue as party’s Hisar MP Dushyant Chautala will hold a protest at Shahbad on Tuesday and other senior leaders of the party will extend their support to the protesting farmers at Yam una na gar on October 4.
“We have decided to extend our support to the farmers against injustice meted out to thembytheruling BJP,”INLD’s state president Ashok Arora said.
The BKU leaders have now decided to move the Punjab and Haryana high court to challenge the decision of state cabinet headed by chief minister (CM) Manohar Lal Khattar terming the project “non-feasible” following court orders to enhance the compensation of the acquired land.
“The government’ s decision to return the land to farmers and asking them to return compensation back to government showed the anti-farmer face of the BJP government,” said BKU spokesperson Rakesh Bains.
“Also this canal was lifeline of this region, which has already been declared dark zone by the present government,” he said.
CONG WILL COMPLETE THE CANAL PROJECT, SAYS SURJEWALA
Addressing the protesting farmers in Yamunangar, Congress leader Ran deep Sing hS ur jew ala on Sunday said the canal project is the lifeline of northern Haryana and the Congress party will ensure its completion if voted to power.
He said the BJP government has bartered the interests of farmers and time has come to raise a decisive battle for justice to up root the K hat tar government.