Selja, Abhay slam BJP for ‘anti-farmer’ policies

CHANDIGARH/KURUKSHETRA: Haryana Congress president Kumari Selja and Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) leader Abhay Chautala slammed the BJP-led central government for what they termed as “anti-farmer” policies, in separate statements on Sunday.

Selja said the Bharatiya Janata Party’s policies are detrimental to the interests of farmers and in favour of a handful of private companies. Stating that the Central government has already passed three ordinances to deprive farmers of their natural rights, Selja said now the Union government is planning to present the Pesticides Management Bill-2020 that would ruin small farmers and businessman. She said the government is prepared to pass this ordinance during the Parliament session starting on Monday. “However, neither the farmers nor farmer associations have been taken into confidence before proposing this ordinance that would be hampering their interests,” she said. The state Congress president demanded a detailed debate on the proposed ordinance in the Parliament, saying that new suggestions should be incorporated in the Bill.

Meanwhile, addressing a state executive meeting at Kurukshetra on Sunday, INLD leader Abhay Chautala said the Centre had brought the farm ordinances to end the MSP regime.

Referring to the police lathicharge during the Kurukshetra protest on September 9, Abhay said, “The farmers had to face police fury when they were going to express their resentment peacefully.” Abhay demanded withdrawal of the FIRs registered against the farmers. He also attacked former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda for not opposing the three ordinances. During the meeting, Abhay asked the party workers to take farmers along and hold protests at all district headquarters from September 23. He said that he will also invite Congress leaders to join the protest in support of the farmers.