Abhay Chautala blames BJP for fanning caste divide

CHANDIGARH: Leader of the Opposition in Haryana assembly, Abhay Singh Chautala on Tuesday accused the BJP leaders for fanning caste divide in the state and failing to rein in party MP Rajkumar Saini, resulting in the recent violence during the Jat stir.

Participating in the discussion on the governor’s address, Chautala said Jats had been agitating for their rights for long. “But never before brotherhood and communal harmony was disturbed in Haryana during such agitations. Who all were responsible for the violence? Only a judicial probe by a sitting high court judge can bring out the truth,’’ Chautala said.

He said the kind of liberties Kurukshetra MP had been taking by regularly making vitriolic remarks against Jat community had created bad blood in the society. Chautala also blamed several other BJP leaders for fanning caste divide in the state. “Your minister Krishan Bedi gave a statement – Jaton ki dadagiri nahi chalegi,’’ he remarked.

Bedi and several BJP MLAs objected to the Chautala’s remarks with Panchkula MLA Gian Chand Gupta and Gurgaon legislator Umesh Aggarwal making references to the provocative language used by leaders of INSO, the student wing of INLD.

Chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar intervened to say that Chautala should speak on the issues mentioned in the governor’s address. “There is no mention of reservation and agitation in the address. Only issues pertaining to law and order have been mentioned. Please keep yourself confined to that,’’ Khattar said.

Chautala responded by saying that he was indeed speaking on the address. “Instead of standing up for Rajkumar Saini, the entire House should condemn him and recommend action against him. I would like chief minister, Manohar Lal Khattar to make a reply on this,’’ he said.

Speaking on SYL issue, Chautala said he wanted the BJP to make its stand clear on the matter. “The BJP is a partner in the Punjab government. The party should have intervened to stop its leaders from passing the Bill,” he said.

On this, finance minister Capt Abhimanyu said that even the INLD and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) had an alliance. “Where was the SAD MLA from Kalanwali when the SYL resolution was put to vote in the House. He is an INLD-supported MLA,’’ he said.

To this, Abhay said the SYL resolution presented to the governor after an all-party meeting last week had the signatures of SAD MLA Balkaur Singh.

Abhimanyu said the Centre had told the Supreme Court that the Punjab Termination of Agreements Act was unconstitutional.