INSO’s Kaithal rally: INLD’s attempt to woo young voters
Tejashwi Yadav slams Modi govt for ‘misusing power to suppress voice of opposition leaders’; INLD’s old brigade dominates rally by making big poll promises
The Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) on Sunday attempted to woo the state’s youth by inviting young leaders to a rally organised to mark the 16th foundation day of its student wing — Indian National Students’ Organisation (INSO).
Next generation leaders of old political associates such as former Bihar chief minister (CM) Lalu Prasad’s son Tejashwi Yadav, former Haryana CM OP Chautala’s grandson and Hisar MP Dushyant Chautala, and former UP CM Mulayam Singh Yadav’s nephew and Samajwadi Party MP Dharmendra Yadav took to stage and appealed the youth to come together to oust the BJP in 2019 elections.
However, another leader, Telugu Desam Party MP from Andhra Pradesh Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, who was likely to attend the rally did not turn up.
The rally that was organised for the youth aged between 18 and 28 years witnessed speeches glorifying the working of INLD founder late Devi Lal.
From rally’s organiser and INSO’s national president Digvijay Chautala to INLD state president Ashok Arora, all speakers reminded the youths how late Devi Lal took several measures for the welfare of farmers and poor.
They also appealed them to fulfil his dreams by bringing the INLD back in power so as to empower the farmers, poor and Dalits.
Tejashwi said his family had an old association with Haryana and late Devi Lal. “I will extend all support to INLD leaders in their fight for the people of Haryana,” he said. Tejashwi, however, said people of Haryana made a big mistake by electing BJP, which had dismayed every section of society. “Time has come for people to mend their mistake in 2019,” he added.
Though the rally was organised to mark the INSO’s foundation day, senior leaders of INLD dominated the stage and made ‘big’ poll promises. In his speech, INLD leader Abhay Chautala announced to waive all loans of farmers and pending electricity bills of tubewell connections.
He said old-age pension will be increased to ₹2,500 per month, amount of ‘kanyadan’ scheme will be revised to ₹5 lakh and unemployment allowance to ₹15,000. He also announced a 50% cut in electricity rates and said the power meters installed outside the premises of the consumers in the village ponds will be dumped if the INLD was voted to power.
NEED TO UNITE YOUTHS
INSO leaders claimed credit for restoring student union elections in the state and said they will continue their protest if the government conducted the polls indirectly.
“We have won a battle, but need to continue the fight till the government conducts the direct polls,” Digvijay said. Dharmendra Yadav, while appealing the youth for active participation in politics, said, “Jis ore jawani chalti hai, us ore jamana chalta hai (world follows the way youth goes).”
Common Wealth Games medallists from state and toppers of Class 10 and 12 examinations were also honoured during the rally.
TEJASHWI ACCUSES BJP OF FILING FALSE CASES
Tejashwi accused the NDA government at the Centre of misusing the power and investigation agencies to suppress the voice of opposition leaders.
“Any leader, who raised the voice of poor and farmers, was sent to jail like my father. Even my entire family, including my mother and sisters, is facing several cases. But we are not worried and fighting without any fear,” said Tejashwi.