News Analysis India

Tag: Rashtriya Lok Dal

  • Don’t forget Lakhimpur Kheri episode, take revenge through votes: RLD’s Jayant Chaudhary

    By PTI

    NOIDA: Ahead of next year’s assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) chief Jayant Chaudhary on Monday asked people to not forget the Lakhimpur Kheri episode and take revenge for the atrocities on farmers though their votes.

    Chaudhary also announced that if his party is voted into power in Uttar Pradesh, high court benches will be set up in western UP, Bundelkhand and Purvanchal areas of the state.

    He also promised that if his party comes to power, inter-caste couples getting married would be given Rs 1 lakh encouragement reward and scholarships would be doled out for the backward and Dalit students who secure admission in prestigious universities abroad.

    The RLD national president made the promises during public programmes in Muzaffarnagar and Amroha districts in western UP on Monday, organised as part of his ‘Aashirwad Path’ public outreach campaign in the state ahead of 2022 assembly polls.

    Currently UP, the country’s most populous and one of the largest states in area, has a High Court in Allahabad with a bench in Lucknow.

    Demand for high court benches in other parts of the state have often cropped up in the past.

    “If RLD comes to power in Uttar Pradesh, our government would set up high court benches in western UP, Bundelkhand and Ghazipur (in Purvanchal),” Chaudhary said, according to a party statement.

    “Also, those who break caste barriers will be given an incentive of Rs one lakh for inter-caste marriages and special scholarships will be given to promising students from backward castes and Dalit community on getting admission in reputed universities of the world,” he said.

    Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh are expected early next year.

    During the events, the RLD chief also hit out at the Yogi Adityanath-led government in UP, saying not even BJP voters would have imagined the atrocities being committed by it.

    “You all have witnessed the Lakhimpur Kheri episode.

    The government has left behind even the British Raj in committing atrocities on the people.

    You must remember the names of the farmers who got martyred in Lakhimpur Kheri and you must take revenge for the atrocities though your votes,” he told crowds at Budhana and Rajabpur.

    He alleged that Union Minister Ajay Mishra’s son Ashish, who is an accused in the Lakhimpur Kheri case, was sitting at his home but the UP police did not arrest him soon after the incident.

    The minister’s son Ashish was arrested on Saturday by the Uttar Pradesh Police in connection with the October 3 violence in which eight people, including four farmers, were killed.

    He was produced before a court late on Saturday night, which sent him to 14-day judicial custody.

    He also trained guns at the Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre, accusing it of helping “corporate friends” and not working for welfare of the common man, the poor and the farmer.

    “A recent survey showed that while the poor of the country battled starvation and many lost their jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic, the wealth of some selected rich men in the country doubled during the period.

    These are the same corporate friends of the government whose wealth increased,” he alleged.

    He said if his party comes to power in UP, a Rs 2,500-crore entrepreneur fund would be started to specially give loans to people from the SC/ST communities in order to help them start their businesses.

    A separate Rs 2,500 crore fund would be set up to provide loans to youngsters for their agriculture-related start ups.

    “If our party comes to power, we will ensure security and safety of everyone, including the minorities, in the state,” Chaudhary added.

  • UP violence: Punjab parties seeks action against culprits; Rakesh Tikait rushes to the spot

    By PTI

    CHANDIGARH: Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Saturday condemned the UP’s Lakhimpur Kheri incident in which two SUVs allegedly ran over a group of farmers, leading to violence that claimed eight lives.

    Other political parties in Punjab too demanded the registration of a case against those who “crushed farmers to death”.

    Deputy Chief Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa said he will visit Lakhimpur Kheri on Monday, along with a team of officials to have on a spot assessment of the situation there.

    Expressing deep anguish at the tragic incident, Channi said the “ghastly and inhuman act” must be condemned by all in the strongest possible words, according to a statement.

    Channi urged his counterpart in Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath, to bring the culprits to book so as to ensure justice to the victims’ families.

    Eight people were killed on Saturday as violence erupted in Uttar Pradesh’s Lakhimpur Kheri during a farmers’ protest over Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya’s visit.

    Four of the dead were traveling in the vehicles and the remaining four were farmers.

    The farmers had assembled there to oppose Maurya’s visit to Banbirpur, the native village of Union Minister of State for Home and MP Ajay Kumar Mishra.

    The violence broke out after two SUVs allegedly ran over a group of anti-farm law protesters.

    Farmers alleged that the Union minister’s son was in one of the vehicles, a charge denied by Mishra.

    Former Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh also sought a probe into the incident.

    “Thorough probe needed into the Lakhimpur Kheri incident. Justice must be ensured for the victims of the violence. Violence or provocation of violence is no solution to any problem.’: @capt_amarinder,” tweeted Amarinder’s media adviser.

    Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party MLA and Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Assembly, Harpal Singh, Cheema condemned the incident and said the culprits should be immediately put behind bars.

    He demanded that the farm laws should be repealed immediately.

    Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal demanded immediate registration of a murder case against the son of the Union minister for allegedly crushing farmers to death.

    “It seems the government is trying to protect the son of a Union minister of state, which is shocking and condemnable,” said Badal in a statement.

    The Union Home Ministry should direct the Uttar Pradesh government to provide justice to the families of dead farmers immediately, he said.

    Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu also sought registration of a case against the Union minister’s son.

    “No one is above the law, FIR under sec 302 IPC must be registered against Union Minister’s son for murder of innocent farmers, he should be immediately arrested and put behind the bars for this barbaric act !!,” tweeted Sidhu.

    Congress MP Partap Singh Bajwa also demanded the registration of a case against the son of the Union minister.

    “All perpetrators including the MoS Home’s son should be booked for murder, for crushing the protesting farmers. Anything less than that would be a gross miscarriage of justice,” said Bajwa in a tweet.

    Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait left for Lakhimpur Kheri on Sunday along with his several supporters following reports of violence there during a farmers’ protest in which eight people were killed.

    While Tikait will be reaching Lakhimpur Kheri by Sunday midnight, Rashtriya Lok Dal chief Jayant Chaudhary too will visit the place on Monday.

    “Farmers’ blood has been shed! I will reach Lakhimpur Kheri tomorrow,” Chaudhary tweeted in Hindi.

    While leaving Ghazipur on the Delhi-Ghaziabad border for Lakhimpur Kheri, Tikait, the BKU’s national spokesperson, saiud claimed “several” farmers are feared dead during the violence in which two vehicles were also allegedly set on fire.

    Eight people were killed as violence erupted in Lakhimpur Kheri during a farmers’ protest over Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya’s visit, an official said.

    Two SUVs were set on fire by angry farmers, reports said, after they hit a group of protesters.

    Four of the dead were travelling in the vehicles, a UP government official said in Lucknow.

    Lakhimpur Kheri District Magistrate Arvind Kumar Chaurasia said four farmers and four others were killed.

    The farmers had assembled there to oppose Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya’s visit to Banbirpur, the native village of Union Minister of State for Home and MP Ajay Kumar Mishra.

    In a video message, Tikait claimed the farmers turned violent when they were attacked while returning after protests.

    “The farmers in Lakhimpur were returning after the protest when they were attacked. Some of them were run over, while the fire was also opened on them. According to the information we have so far, several people have died in the incident,” Tikait said in a video message that he posted on Twitter.

    In a separate statement, he said the incident has “once again exposed the cruel and undemocratic face of the government”.

    “The people sitting in the government have revealed today to what extent they can stoop to suppress the farmers’ movement. But the government is forgetting that we did not bow down even to the Mughals and Firangis (referring to the British) for our rights. The government should not test the farmers’ patience any further. The farmer may die but is not going to get scared,” he said.

    He urged the UP government to register a murder case against the “killers of farmers” and ensure their arrest.

    He also appealed to the farmers to maintain peace, saying the victory will be theirs.

    “If the government does not come to its senses, not a single BJP leader will be allowed to leave his or her house,”{ the farmer leader threatened.

    The violence broke out after two SUVs allegedly ran over a group of anti-farm law protesters who were demonstrating against the visit of Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya at Tikonia-Banbirpur road in Lakhimpur Kheri district, some 130 km off state capital Lucknow.

  • UP violence: Punjab parties seek action against culprits; Rakesh Tikait rushes to the spot

    By PTI

    CHANDIGARH: Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Saturday condemned the UP’s Lakhimpur Kheri incident in which two SUVs allegedly ran over a group of farmers, leading to violence that claimed eight lives.

    Other political parties in Punjab too demanded the registration of a case against those who “crushed farmers to death”.

    Deputy Chief Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa said he will visit Lakhimpur Kheri on Monday, along with a team of officials to have on a spot assessment of the situation there.

    Expressing deep anguish at the tragic incident, Channi said the “ghastly and inhuman act” must be condemned by all in the strongest possible words, according to a statement.

    Channi urged his counterpart in Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath, to bring the culprits to book so as to ensure justice to the victims’ families.

    Eight people were killed on Saturday as violence erupted in Uttar Pradesh’s Lakhimpur Kheri during a farmers’ protest over Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya’s visit.

    Four of the dead were traveling in the vehicles and the remaining four were farmers.

    The farmers had assembled there to oppose Maurya’s visit to Banbirpur, the native village of Union Minister of State for Home and MP Ajay Kumar Mishra.

    The violence broke out after two SUVs allegedly ran over a group of anti-farm law protesters.

    Farmers alleged that the Union minister’s son was in one of the vehicles, a charge denied by Mishra.

    Former Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh also sought a probe into the incident.

    “Thorough probe needed into the Lakhimpur Kheri incident. Justice must be ensured for the victims of the violence. Violence or provocation of violence is no solution to any problem.’: @capt_amarinder,” tweeted Amarinder’s media adviser.

    Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party MLA and Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Assembly, Harpal Singh, Cheema condemned the incident and said the culprits should be immediately put behind bars.

    He demanded that the farm laws should be repealed immediately.

    Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal demanded immediate registration of a murder case against the son of the Union minister for allegedly crushing farmers to death.

    “It seems the government is trying to protect the son of a Union minister of state, which is shocking and condemnable,” said Badal in a statement.

    The Union Home Ministry should direct the Uttar Pradesh government to provide justice to the families of dead farmers immediately, he said.

    Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu also sought registration of a case against the Union minister’s son.

    “No one is above the law, FIR under sec 302 IPC must be registered against Union Minister’s son for murder of innocent farmers, he should be immediately arrested and put behind the bars for this barbaric act !!,” tweeted Sidhu.

    Congress MP Partap Singh Bajwa also demanded the registration of a case against the son of the Union minister.

    “All perpetrators including the MoS Home’s son should be booked for murder, for crushing the protesting farmers. Anything less than that would be a gross miscarriage of justice,” said Bajwa in a tweet.

    Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait left for Lakhimpur Kheri on Sunday along with his several supporters following reports of violence there during a farmers’ protest in which eight people were killed.

    While Tikait will be reaching Lakhimpur Kheri by Sunday midnight, Rashtriya Lok Dal chief Jayant Chaudhary too will visit the place on Monday.

    “Farmers’ blood has been shed! I will reach Lakhimpur Kheri tomorrow,” Chaudhary tweeted in Hindi.

    While leaving Ghazipur on the Delhi-Ghaziabad border for Lakhimpur Kheri, Tikait, the BKU’s national spokesperson, saiud claimed “several” farmers are feared dead during the violence in which two vehicles were also allegedly set on fire.

    Eight people were killed as violence erupted in Lakhimpur Kheri during a farmers’ protest over Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya’s visit, an official said.

    Two SUVs were set on fire by angry farmers, reports said, after they hit a group of protesters.

    Four of the dead were travelling in the vehicles, a UP government official said in Lucknow.

    Lakhimpur Kheri District Magistrate Arvind Kumar Chaurasia said four farmers and four others were killed.

    The farmers had assembled there to oppose Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya’s visit to Banbirpur, the native village of Union Minister of State for Home and MP Ajay Kumar Mishra.

    In a video message, Tikait claimed the farmers turned violent when they were attacked while returning after protests.

    “The farmers in Lakhimpur were returning after the protest when they were attacked. Some of them were run over, while the fire was also opened on them. According to the information we have so far, several people have died in the incident,” Tikait said in a video message that he posted on Twitter.

    In a separate statement, he said the incident has “once again exposed the cruel and undemocratic face of the government”.

    “The people sitting in the government have revealed today to what extent they can stoop to suppress the farmers’ movement. But the government is forgetting that we did not bow down even to the Mughals and Firangis (referring to the British) for our rights. The government should not test the farmers’ patience any further. The farmer may die but is not going to get scared,” he said.

    He urged the UP government to register a murder case against the “killers of farmers” and ensure their arrest.

    He also appealed to the farmers to maintain peace, saying the victory will be theirs.

    “If the government does not come to its senses, not a single BJP leader will be allowed to leave his or her house,”{ the farmer leader threatened.

    The violence broke out after two SUVs allegedly ran over a group of anti-farm law protesters who were demonstrating against the visit of Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya at Tikonia-Banbirpur road in Lakhimpur Kheri district, some 130 km off state capital Lucknow.

  • I’ll never let farmers’ honour down: Jayant Chaudhary

    By PTI

    BAGHPAT: Rashtriya Lok Dal president Jayant Chaudhary on Sunday said he will never let farmers and their ‘pagdhi’ (head gears) down.

    The grandson of former Prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh and son of former Union Minister Chaudhary Ajit Singh, Jayant Chaudhary made this declaration near here at Chhaprauli during ‘rasam pagdi’, a traditional ritual of honouring someone with a head gear, organised for his late father.

    The ‘rasam pagdi’ for the former Union minister was attended by people from several districts of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Delhi and Rajasthan.

    “I will never let your ‘pagdi’ down. You have blessed former Prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh and former Union minister Ajit Singh. I am lucky to have your blessings. I will always stay with you and will never let you down,” Jayant Chaudhary proclaimed.

    Bharatiya Kisan Union chairman Naresh Tikait too attended the function and paid tributes to Ajit Singh.

  • RLD workers burn effigy of Haryana CM over lathicharge on farmers

    By PTI

    MUZAFFARNAGAR: Several workers of the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) burnt an effigy of Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Monday to protest against the lathicharge on farmers in Karnal on August 28.

    The party workers gathered in Pinna village here and raised slogans against the Haryana government.

    Around 10 people were injured on Saturday as police allegedly lathicharged a group of farmers disrupting traffic movement on a highway while heading towards Karnal in Haryana to protest against a BJP meeting.

    The police, however, said only four protesters were injured, while 10 cops also sustained injuries.

    The Haryana Police drew severe criticism for the action against the farmers, and several roads and highways, including toll plazas, were blockaded at different places in protest for hours on Saturday.

  • SP takes a cue from BJP, looks for smaller parties to regain power in UP

    Express News Service

    LUCKNOW: After having a bitter experience by joining hands with bigwigs like Congress in the 2017 Assembly polls and the BSP in the 2019 General elections, Samajwadi Party is now following the BJP strategy of taking smaller parties to regain power in Uttar Pradesh.

    Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav has been giving indications about going for alliance only with the smaller parties to defeat the mighty BJP and come back in the saddle in UP polls due early next year.

    On possible alliances, Akhilesh Yadav had recently said that the doors of his party were open for all small parties. Many smaller parties were already with him. More would come in the fold.

    On his 47th birthday recently, former CM Akhilesh Yadav had said:  “My party is willing to work with the smaller parties to defeat the BJP. We will take such forces on board.” Interestingly, the SP is already in an alliance with the Jat-based Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), a party having some clout in western UP. In fact, RLD is looking at capitalising on the ongoing farmers’ protest against the BJP in UP polls.

    ALSO READ | UP polls 2022: Akhilesh Yadav promises caste census within six months of assuming power

    Akhilesh is also said to have kept his doors open for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). His recent meeting with AAP MP Sanjay Singh further fuelled this speculation.

    “The basic idea behind having a possible truck with AAP is that it can split the BJP’s votes into urban areas,” said a senior SP leader. However, AAP also expressed its willingness to work with a non-BJP front but putting the onus of building such a front rests on the principal opposition –the Samajwadi Party.

    No doubt in the tough battle ahead, Akhilesh realises the significance of these smaller caste-based political outfits, which can be the deciding factor between a victory and defeat on many seats. Alliances with caste-based diminutive parties can also give him the necessary expansion beyond his Muslim-Yadav vote base.

    Consequently, recently the Samajwadi Party chief took western UP-based Mahan Dal on board. In the 2019 general elections, Mahan Dal had aligned with the Congress but failed to cut much ice among the voters.

    While the Yadavs have consolidated with the SP, the Kurmis have been with the BJP since 2014 and are still seen largely with it. However, the floating vote comes for other backward castes like Mauryas, Rajhar, Nishad, Kashyap, etc, who see themselves as the MBCs and discards in the larger OBC narrative.

    While Akhilesh keeps his estranged uncle Shivpal Yadav’ on tenterhooks and despite Shivpal willingness to join the SP bandwagon, Akhilesh has not been giving him much attention. However, Shivpal’s Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party – Lohia had given a big dent to SP prospects in 2019.

    On the other hand, ‘Bhagidari Morcha’ led by Om Prakash Rajbhar’s Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party (SBSP) has also shown its eagerness to join hands with SP in 2022, but Akhilesh has not committed anything so far because of the presence of AIMIM leader Assaduddin Owaisi in the Bhagidari Morcha.

    “SP fears that AIMIM will split its Muslim vote bank, thereby, helping the BJP,” says Prof AK Mishra, a political scientist.

  • Days after Ajit Singh’s death, Jayant Chaudhary takes over as Rashtriya Lok Dal president

    By ANI
    NEW DELHI: The Rashtriya Lok Dal (RJD) on Tuesday elected Jayant Chaudhary as the party president days after the demise of his father Ajit Singh.

    The decision was taken at the party’s national executive meeting.

    “Shri Jayant Chaudhary Ji has worked along with several experienced social workers including Chaudhary Charan Singh ji and Chaudhary Ajit Singh ji. At the moment of crisis, he should join the party and strengthen the organization”, read the release by RLD.

    In the meeting, RLD leaders appreciated the recent performance of its party in the Uttar Pradesh Panchayat elections. The party also expressed concerns over damages caused by Cyclone Tauktae in Maharashtra, Goa and Gujarat and expressed condolences towards those who lost their lives.

    As per the release, in the meeting, Jayant Chaudhary supported farmers’ protest against the farm laws that has been going on for the last six months and asked party workers to participate in a massive protest that will take place on May 26. He demanded the Central government to negotiate with the farmers and resolve the problem quickly.

    The newly elected President also called upon the party workers to wholeheartedly prepare for the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly elections that will be held in the year 2022.

    Ajit Singh, who was the president of the RLD, passed away due to COVID-19 on May 6. He was a prominent leader in western Uttar Pradesh and was seven-time MP from Uttar Pradesh’s Baghpat. 

  • Former union minister and RLD chief Ajit Singh dies of COVID-19

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI:  Former Union minister and Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) leader Ajit Singh passed away at a Gurgaon hospital on Thursday morning battling COVID-19, his family said. He was 82.

    The family said in a statement that Singh, the son of former prime minister Chaudhary Charan Singh, was diagnosed positive for COVID-19 on April 20. “Chaudhary Ajit Singh ji was diagnosed as COVID+ on the 20th April. He battled his condition till the very end and breathed his last today morning, the 6th of May, 2021,” his son Jayant Chowdhury tweeted.

    pic.twitter.com/xIxgNh839Q
    — Jayant Chaudhary (@jayantrld) May 6, 2021

    “Throughout his life journey, Chaudhary Sahib was loved and respected by many. He, in turn cherished this bond with all of you and gave his best consideration and efforts for your welfare,” he said.

    “As our Nation confronts the horrific pandemic, it is our humble request to all those who wish to pay their respects, to please stay at home as far as possible. We must observe all safety protocols to keep ourselves and everyone around us healthy and safe. This would be the best way to honour Chaudhary Sahib as well as all those COVID warriors who are working night and day to protect us,” he said.

    “We pray for solace for all those families that have been ravaged by this brutal disease,” the message posted by Jayant on behalf of the family said. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, SP supremo Akhilesh Yadav and others have condoled the death of the leader.

    Expressing grief at the Singh’s death, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday he was always dedicated to the welfare of farmers. Modi said that he deftly handled many responsibilities at the Centre. The prime minister extended his condolences to Singh’s family and admirers.

    Condoling Singh’s demise, BJP president JP Nadda said he always served people during his long career in politics. Singh, son of former prime minister Charan Singh, was diagnosed positive for COVID-19 on April 20.

  • RLD to build memorial for farmers who died during protests against agri laws

    By PTI
    LUCKNOW: In a bid to resonate closely with the farming community ahead of next year’s Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) is planning to construct a memorial in western UP’s Meerut to pay respects to farmers who had died during protests against the Centre’s new farm laws.

    Aptly named ‘Kisan Balidan Smarak’, the memorial will be spread across one acre of land in Meerut.

    In a tweet in Hindi, RLD Vice-President Jayant Chaudhary said, “141 days, more than 350 farmers have attained martyrdom. The coming generation should remember the sacrifice done to save farming and agriculture. On the revolutionary soil of Meerut, Rashtriya Lok Dal will construct ‘Kisan Balidan Smarak’ (Farmers’ Sacrifice Memorial).”

    He also said that suggestions regarding the design of the memorial have also been sought.

    Elaborating further, Chaudhary told PTI, “We have named it (memorial) as the Kisan Balidan Smarak. We have some land in Meerut, where we had earlier intended to construct our office. However, now the ‘Kisan Balidan Smarak’ is going to come there.”

    When asked as to what were the reasons that prompted the RLD to go ahead with the construction of a memorial, the RLD vice-president said, “The reason was that so many people had died. We need some sort of mark of respect. If a memorial is there, then people will understand how a big sacrifice has been made by the farmers. The memorial, which will be constructed will be for the farmers’ sacrifice.”

    Asked to comment on whether the move is being perceived as politically motivated, Chaudhary replied, “It should be looked at in a positive way. Every other party is free to do its own programme. Time is right for parties to rise above the vested interests and petty politics, and do something which is constructive for farmers.”

    “I think it (memorial) will have a deep resonance with the farmers because right now, we have a government that is completely ignoring them. They don’t talk about the deaths of farmers. They do not want to observe two-minutes silence in the Parliament. The Indian republic is strong due to the sacrifices of Indian farmers,” he added.

    On the final design of the memorial, Chaudhary said he has asked people to give their design inputs, and that some architects are reaching out to him.

    The RLD vice-president did not give a date by which the memorial dedicated to the farmers will be built.

    Thousands of farmers, mostly from Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, have been camping at the Delhi border points — Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur — for over three months, demanding the repeal of the farm laws and a legal guarantee on the minimum support price (MSP) for their crops.

    The Centre says the new farm laws will free farmers from middlemen, giving them more options to sell their crops.

    The protesting farmers, however, say the laws would pave the way for eliminating the safety cushion of MSP and do away with the ‘mandi’ (wholesale market) system, leaving them at the mercy of big corporates.

  • Centre using ‘divide and rule policy’ to suppress farmers’ protest, says RLD’s Jayant Chaudhary

    By PTI
    NOIDA: The Centre is using the “divide and rule policy” used by the British to suppress the ongoing farmers’ protest against the new agri laws, Rashtriya Lok Dal vice-president Jayant Chaudhary said on Thursday.

    The agitation was first dubbed as a “Khalistani movement” and then called a “Jats’ movement” when it is the fight of all farmers, Chaudhary said while addressing a ‘mahapanchayat’ in western Uttar Pradesh’s Mathura district.

    This was the 11th such congregation of farmers in the region amid the agitation against three farm laws enacted by the government in September last year.

    Taking a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chaudhary said he “is such a strong prime minister that he is now standing against farmers”.

    The RLD leader alleged the government is trying to divide farmers to end the protest.

    “They are using the divide and rule policy which was used by the British to suppress India’s freedom movement,” he said.

    “First they called this a Khalistani movement, then they said this is a protest only by the Jat community when the reality is that it is the fight of all farmers in the country,” he added.

    Chaudhary also hit out at the government over the registration of FIRs against journalists, activists and artistes in different parts of the country for criticising it.

    He called on the gathering to support the farmers’ protests at Delhi’s border points of Tikri, Singhu and Ghazipur.

    Thousands of farmers, mostly from Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, have been camping at Delhi’s border points for over two months to press for the repeal of the three agri laws and a legal guarantee on the minimum support price.

    The RLD is holding a series of farmer meetings across Uttar Pradesh, especially in the western part of the state, to reach out to the public over a host of issues, including those faced by farmers.