Dushyant launches new party, stakes claim to Devi Lal’s legacy
A month after he was expelled from the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) by his grandfather and former Haryana chief minister Om Prakash Chautala, Hisar MP Dushyant Chautala on Sunday launched a new political outfit Jannayak Janta Dal at a rally in Pandu Pindora village in Jind, considered as the political heartland of the state.
Dushyant and his brother Digvijay, sons of OP Chautala’s elder son Ajay, were expelled from INLD last month after an internal inquiry found them guilty of indiscipline.
A few days later, Ajay too was expelled from the party on grounds of indulging in antiparty activities. In a rally in Jind on November 17, Ajay, who was then out on parole, announced the plan to float a new party.
Dushyant’s new party flag retains the green colour that has been associated with the INLD, and also has an addition of yellow. In the centre of the flag is the photo of his great-grandfather, former deputy prime minister and two-time Haryana chief minister, Devi Lal.
Ajay Chautala, who is undergoing a 10-year jail term along with father Om Prakash Chautala since 2013 in a teachers’ recruitment scam, could not attend the rally as he was denied parole.
Addressing the rally, Dushyant said following the ideology of his great-grandfather, he was launching the party to decimate the ruling BJP, Congress and the INLD in Haryana.
“Ye party chalegi Tau ke vicharon se, Ajay ke vafadaron se (This party will function on the ideology of Devi Lal by the trusted lieutenants of Ajay Chautala),” Dushyant said. “Devi Lal also changed parties and associations, but he never forgot to fight for the rights of the farmers and the poor people,” he added.
Dushyant said his father Ajay was the rightful successor to Devi Lal’s green pagdi (turban — as a symbol of legacy). “They (Abhay and INLD) can keep Devi Lal’s party, his money and property, but his “pagdi” belongs to Ajay Chautala and this party,” Dushyant said.
He said the name of his party signified a strong association between “jannayak” (mass leader) Devi Lal and the “janta” (the people). He said the green colour in his party flag represented security, peace, brotherhood and progress and yellow stood for happiness, energy and positivity.
DUSHYANT SAID THE CONGRESS IN ITS 10YEAR RULE IN HARYANA ROBBED POOR FARMERS OF THEIR LAND IN EVERY DISTRICT.
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Reminding the gathering that he still had his grandfather OP Chautala in his heart, Dushyant said he was legally bound not to have his rival party (INLD) head’s photo in his new party posters.
“OP Chautala ji humare parivaar ke mukhiya hain... humare ghar ke mukhiya hain... lekin vo aaj humare virodhi dal ke bhi mukhiya hain” Dushyant said.
“The moment OP Chauata resigns from the INLD, his photos will be put up in the posters of the Jannayak Janta Party,” he said, as he asked the public to raise Om Prakash Chautala Zindabad slogans.
Launching scathing attacks on rival parties, Dushyant said the Congress in its 10-year rule in Haryana robbed poor farmers of their land in every district. “The Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) in the last four years was no better.
Announcing his incarcerated father’s message, Dushyant said if their party was voted to power, they would waive loans of farmers.
“We have decided to purchase farmers’ produce at 10% more value than the MSP,” he said.
The MP also promised of introducing a law to cap fee in private schools. “
We will reduce the age limit of elderly pension to 55 for women and 58 for men. We will also bring back the old pension scheme in place of the NPS,” he said.
On Dushyant’s side were his younger brother Digvijay, who reminded the public that it was the initiative of his elder brother that brought around 300 Passport Seva Kendras in small cities across the country.
His mother Naina Chautala urged the gathering to act as “vanar sena” and construct a “Ram Setu” for Dushyant that leads him to the chief minister’s office.