Congress asks Haryana MLAs to ‘take bold decisions’; taunts Dushayant

New Delhi: The Congress on Wednesday hailed two Independent MLAs who withdrew support to Haryana’s Manohar Lal-led BJP coalition government in protest against the central farm laws and exhorted more legislators to take “bold decisions” for the sake of farmers.
With many allied MLAs of the state BJP regime reportedly restless, the Congress taunted deputy CM and JPP leader Dushayant Chautala for “clinging to the chair” and demanded the Modi regime immediately “suspend” the contentious farms laws.

The Congress calculates that either cracks in the Haryana alliance that could threaten stability of the regime would develop or the Centre would blink under pressure during Thursday's negotiations with farmers.

Tapping growing restlessness of many JJP and Independent legislators, Leader of the Opposition Bupinder Singh Hooda, targeted Chautala’s continuance as deputy CM. “Harsimrat Kaur Badal (of Akali Dal) quit her ministership at the Centre to protest against the anti-farmer laws and BJP’s Rajasthan ally RLP has spoken out against the laws. However, Dushyant Chautala is not only clinging to power but he is even collaborating with the BJP and its governments in trying to suppress farmers,” Hooda alleged.

AICC spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said, “Dushyant Chautala has to show whether the chair or the welfare of the farmer is dear to him. If he is concerned about farmers, he should resign from the post of the deputy chief minister and withdraw JJP’s support to the Khattar government. We congratulate the two Independent MLAs who have withdrawn support to the state government by listening to cries of farmers. Hopefully, the rest of the independent MLAs will also take such bold decisions”. Asked by media persons whether the state government commanded a majority he said “the Khattar government did not have a majority, neither earlier, nor now. This is an illegal and unconstitutional government formed against the spirit of popular verdict.”

Congress MP from Punjab, Manish Tewari, demanded immediate convening of Parliament’s winter session to discuss urgent issues including farmers’ agitation. “Farmers have besieged Delhi, economy is officially in recession, Chinese continue to encroach over 1000 sqkm of our land and Covid cases are at 95 lakh, with 1.38 lakh dead in 8 months. Government needs to convene the winter session of Parliament as soon as possible,” he tweeted.