Haryana Congress Legislature Party leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda says farmers’ agitation is not a political, but national issue. He accuses BJP govt of trying to dislodge the stir. Speaking to TOI’s Manvir Saini, the former Haryana CM reiterates his plan to bring a no confidence motion against the BJP-JJP coalition. Excerpts:
How do you think the farmers’ agitation will end?
It is agonising that farmers’ pleas are not receiving deserved seriousness from the Centre. Instead of making efforts to resolve the issue, attempts are being made to demonise, deride, divide and derail farmers’ protests. This lack of understanding on the part of the government leaves no option for farmers but to carry on with their protests. It is hoped the deadlock will be resolved without further loss of time through negotiations with the farmers.
Haryana is witnessing mahapanchayats being organised regularly on the issue of farmers’ agitation. Do you feel farmers have made parties irrelevant?
Farmers’ agitation is not a political issue; it is a national issue because, like truth, agriculture concerns us all. Indian National Congress supports farmers’ ‘satyagraha’. We are aware politicisation of protests will weaken the cause of farmers. The unprecedented participation of the common man in mahapanchayats reveals that the farmers agitation has assumed the proportion and status of peoples’ movement.
The opposition is facing allegations that it has been offering only lip service but there is nothing concrete on ground, especially when it comes to taking an active role in strengthening the agitation. What role do you see for your party and other political parties in this scenario?
It has been the stand of the Congress from the beginning that it supports farmers cause and has organised ‘Tractor Yatras’, bandhs and other programmes to strengthen the agitation.
The Haryana chief minister, deputy CM and others from BJP-JJP have claimed that the Congress is misleading and provoking farmers for its vested interests. They say that the agriculture marketing laws are based on what the special committee headed by you had recommended in its report. What is your response?
BJP-JJP leaders are spreading lies as they have nothing to defend the three laws with. I am certain they have not read the report of the committee headed by me. For example, we clearly recommended minimum support price (MSP) should be ensured and procurement arrangements be set in place by all states. The working group supported the National Commission on Farmers’ report suggesting 50% higher price over actual cost of cultivation or on the lines of Bureau of Industrial Cost and Prices (BICP) formula used for estimating industrial costs. But, there is no mention of MSP in the recently enacted laws.
The Congress is planning to bring in no confidence motion against the BJP-JJP government in Haryana assembly despite odds not being in its favour. The opposition’s strength has further gone down after resignation of INLD MLA Abhay Chautala and disqualification of Congress’s Kalka MLA Pardeep Chaudhary. Even the Haryana Congress appears to be divided. Don’t you think that numbers are not in you favour?
The government is panicking and has started manipulating things to reduce the number of opposition benches. Several MLAs who are supporting this “minority government” are speaking against it and in the favour of farmers. The no confidence Motion will expose them in public and show whether their words are sincere or a lip service to the farmers. The entire Congress is solidly with the farmers.
Do you see the scope of midterm polls in the state, especially in the wake of dissenting views among MLAs of ruling alliance. Is any MLA from ruling alliance or independent MLA in touch with you for the no confidence motion?
You cannot rule out any possibility in politics.
Protesters have been creating obstructions and not allowing Haryana CM and his deputy to carry out any programmes on ground. What is your view?
This government itself is responsible for creating such an abnormal situation. It needs to be understood that in a democracy, a government is run with the consent of the people and not by crushing their will.
The Haryana Congress did not project a unified front during the assembly polls. How is the situation in the party now?
It is not correct to say that the Congress did not project as unified front during the last assembly polls. And, united we stand.
How do you think the farmers’ agitation will end?
It is agonising that farmers’ pleas are not receiving deserved seriousness from the Centre. Instead of making efforts to resolve the issue, attempts are being made to demonise, deride, divide and derail farmers’ protests. This lack of understanding on the part of the government leaves no option for farmers but to carry on with their protests. It is hoped the deadlock will be resolved without further loss of time through negotiations with the farmers.
Haryana is witnessing mahapanchayats being organised regularly on the issue of farmers’ agitation. Do you feel farmers have made parties irrelevant?
Farmers’ agitation is not a political issue; it is a national issue because, like truth, agriculture concerns us all. Indian National Congress supports farmers’ ‘satyagraha’. We are aware politicisation of protests will weaken the cause of farmers. The unprecedented participation of the common man in mahapanchayats reveals that the farmers agitation has assumed the proportion and status of peoples’ movement.
The opposition is facing allegations that it has been offering only lip service but there is nothing concrete on ground, especially when it comes to taking an active role in strengthening the agitation. What role do you see for your party and other political parties in this scenario?
It has been the stand of the Congress from the beginning that it supports farmers cause and has organised ‘Tractor Yatras’, bandhs and other programmes to strengthen the agitation.
The Haryana chief minister, deputy CM and others from BJP-JJP have claimed that the Congress is misleading and provoking farmers for its vested interests. They say that the agriculture marketing laws are based on what the special committee headed by you had recommended in its report. What is your response?
BJP-JJP leaders are spreading lies as they have nothing to defend the three laws with. I am certain they have not read the report of the committee headed by me. For example, we clearly recommended minimum support price (MSP) should be ensured and procurement arrangements be set in place by all states. The working group supported the National Commission on Farmers’ report suggesting 50% higher price over actual cost of cultivation or on the lines of Bureau of Industrial Cost and Prices (BICP) formula used for estimating industrial costs. But, there is no mention of MSP in the recently enacted laws.
The Congress is planning to bring in no confidence motion against the BJP-JJP government in Haryana assembly despite odds not being in its favour. The opposition’s strength has further gone down after resignation of INLD MLA Abhay Chautala and disqualification of Congress’s Kalka MLA Pardeep Chaudhary. Even the Haryana Congress appears to be divided. Don’t you think that numbers are not in you favour?
The government is panicking and has started manipulating things to reduce the number of opposition benches. Several MLAs who are supporting this “minority government” are speaking against it and in the favour of farmers. The no confidence Motion will expose them in public and show whether their words are sincere or a lip service to the farmers. The entire Congress is solidly with the farmers.
Do you see the scope of midterm polls in the state, especially in the wake of dissenting views among MLAs of ruling alliance. Is any MLA from ruling alliance or independent MLA in touch with you for the no confidence motion?
You cannot rule out any possibility in politics.
Protesters have been creating obstructions and not allowing Haryana CM and his deputy to carry out any programmes on ground. What is your view?
This government itself is responsible for creating such an abnormal situation. It needs to be understood that in a democracy, a government is run with the consent of the people and not by crushing their will.
The Haryana Congress did not project a unified front during the assembly polls. How is the situation in the party now?
It is not correct to say that the Congress did not project as unified front during the last assembly polls. And, united we stand.
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