As farmers protest continue more allies threaten to leave BJP alliance, JJP Chautala latest in line

Last updated on February 21st, 2023 at 12:21 pm

JJP Chautala:  (BJP) as the farmers’ protest gains momentum and more parties come forward to support their cause. Among the latest to threaten BJP about exiting the alliance has been Haryana Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala. The Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) leader told BJP that his party was against the newly introduced agricultural laws. 

Chautala sent out a strong message stating that if the central government removed MSP (minimum support price), which is likely to comprise farmers’ interest, then he would resign from his post. He added that as long as he was serving the state he would not let it happen. The JJP spokesperson along with keeping forward Chautala’s demands urged the Centre to resolve the demands of the farmers related to MSP on priority basis.

JJP’s national spokesperson Prateek Som told IANS, “We want to assure farmers that MSP will not be discontinued till Dushyant Chautala is the Deputy Chief Minister of the state. Still, if the farmers suffer due to the MSP, he will be the first to resign. The JJP is always with the farmers.”

“The JJP has asked the Central government to consider the demands of the farmers. It is important to get an assurance from the government on MSP. We are hopeful that the Centre will talk to the farmers and resolve the issue soon so that the deadlock can be broken,” he added.

JJP gets its major support from Jats and farmers of Haryana hence, it cannot put its majority vote bank in jeopardy to support BJP, along with which it entered into an alliance to form government in Haryana. 

On Tuesday, JJP’s National President and former MP Ajay Singh Chautala also urged the Centre to form a law on MSP. Ajay Singh Chautala said in a statement, “Considering the demands of the farmers, the Centre should find a solution by consensus. The government must solve the problems of the agitating farmers at the earliest. The Centre should also consider inclusion of the MSP in the Act.”

Centre has not taken any definitive stand over the issue of MSP which is why farmers are more anxious as it leaves more room to alter things. The country’s agricultural community believed that these newly introduced legislations favoured big corporations over vulnerable farmers.

The three contested farm laws included – The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation), Act, 2020, The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020, and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020. Once passed in parliament, the move was immediately met with strong opposition and protests all across the country as the legislation was passed without the consent of opposition leaders.

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