Dushyant Chautala’s legacy won him votes, it has also put him on farmers’ firing line

CHANDIGARH: While the political legacy of former deputy prime minister and “tau” of Indian politics, Devi Lal, helped his great grandson Dushyant Chautala to become deputy chief minister of Haryana at the age of 31, the young leader, however, is on the firing line because of his political lineage. A massive protest was carried by the farmers near Dushyant’s residence in Sirsa against the Centre’s new agriculture laws.
While marching towards Dusyant’s residence, the farmers were raising the slogans that he should either ‘Kursi’ (power) or ‘Kisan’ (farmers).
Farmers want Dushyant to step down on new farm laws.
According to the farmers, they do not expect from the great-grandson of Devi Lal, who struggled for the causes of farmers, should remain in power with a political party that had brought this ‘anti-farmer’ law.
The bill was brought by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is in power at the Centre and in the state of Haryana. Even the BJP-Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) coalition government is led by Manohar Lal Khattar but instead of Gherao of Khattar or any of his other ministers, farmers are targeting Dushyant.
“Devi Lal ke naam pe vote liye, sarkar banayee or phir kisan ki peeth mein chhura ghonp diya, (He got votes in the name of Devi Lal, became part of the government with BJP and now by supporting these new laws, he has stabbed the farming community), “ said Gurnam Singh Charuni, a senior farmer leader of Haryana told TOI. When asked why only Dushyant is being targeted, Charuni said people from the villages had voted for him and now they would be more affected by the new laws.
According to Kumari Selja, president of Haryana Congress, said the deputy CM’s party had been doing politics in the name of farmers, is now not standing with them due to allurement of power.
Yogendra Yadav, president Swaraj India, who has also been actively participating in farmers protests in Haryana, said the farming community never had any expectations from the BJP, but the farmers expect that Devi Lal’s great-grandson, Dushyant would never support any anti-farmer move.
Political experts are of the view that the core voter of Dushyant was from rural areas and that is why he has been targeted by everyone. Pressure on Dushyant, also mounted after the resignation of Harsimrat Kaur Badal of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), which later withdrew support from BJP on the issue.
Dushyant, however, has been claiming that the farmers are being misled by Congress and his party would quit if the farmers are deprived of the MSP on their crops.
Tau’s son also faces heat
Besides Dushyant, the farmers have also been targeting Devi Lal’s son, Ranjit Singh, who is power minister in Khattar cabinet and is an independent MLA from Rania seat of Sirsa district. According to farmers, Ranjit who was elected due to Devi Lal’s legacy, should step down and protest against new laws.