Dadri’s assembly constituency independent MLA Sombir Sangwan on Tuesday withdrew its support for the BJP-JJP government in Haryana, calling it anti-farmer. I have withdrawn my support for this anti-farmer government. This government, instead of sympathizing with the cause of the farmers, used all measures, such as water cannons and tear gas, to prevent them from marching towards Delhi. I cannot continue to support such a government, Sangwan said.
A day earlier, while supporting farmers gathered at the Delhi borders to protest the Center’s new agricultural laws, Sangwan had tendered his resignation as chairman of the Haryana Livestock Development Board. In the letter to Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, Sangwan said: “I have resigned from my position in support of farmers. Like the entire country, the farmers in my constituency of the assembly, Dadri, are also protesting against these laws. In this situation, giving them my full support is a priority for me and also for my moral duty ”.
“I have given all the support to the farmers after listening to my inner conscience,” wrote the MLA. The MLA’s decision to withdraw support does not pose a threat to the coalition government of more than a year in the state, which enjoys a comfortable majority in the 90-member State Assembly.
The Haryana Assembly has a force of 90 members, and currently comprises 40 MLAs from the BJP, 10 from the allied JJP, 31 members of the main opposition Congress and one MLA each from INLD and the Haryana Lokhit Party. Seven members are independent, of which five, including Energy Minister Ranjit Singh Chautala, support the ruling team.
Earlier this year, the Independent MLA Balraj Kundu had also withdrawn its support for the Khattar government. On Sunday, Sangwan had said that many “maybe” from Haryana had decided to respond to the agitated farmers’ call “Delhi Chalo” and march to the national capital to support their protest against the three new central agricultural laws.
Protesting farmers have expressed fear that the new agricultural marketing laws enacted at the Center will lead to the dismantling of the minimum support price (MSP) system, leaving farmers at the mercy of large corporations. However, the government says the new laws give farmers options to obtain higher prices for their crops and that the MSP regime will continue.
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