Independent MLA withdraws support for Haryana govt

A day after independent MLA Sombir Sangwan resigned as chairman of the State Livestock Development Board, he withdrew support for the BJP-JJP coalition in light of the farmers' protest.

Chandigarh: Independent MLA Sombir Sangwan on Wednesday withdrew his support from the BJP-JJP government in Haryana for extending his support to the farmers who are protesting against the Centre's new farm laws. Sangwan had tendered his resignation as chairman of the State Livestock Development Board on Monday.

In a letter addressed to the Haryana govt, he said, "I withdraw my support from the BJP-JJP coalition. I cannot remain associated with the government that is against the farmers. So, I decide to part with it."

Sangwan is among seven independent MLAs elected in the Assembly elections last year who were supporting the BJP-JJP coalition in the state.

In the 2019 Assembly seats, BJP and JJP floated an alliance after winning 40 and 10 seats respectively.

In the letter to Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, he said, "I have resigned from my post in support of farmers. Like the entire country, farmers from my assembly constituency Dadri are also protesting against these laws. In this situation, extending my full support to them is a priority for me and my moral duty too."

READ: Rahul Gandhi slams Centre over farmers protest

"I have given the farmers full support after listening to my inner conscience," the MLA wrote.

Earlier, he had said that Haryana's many 'khaps' have decided to respond to the agitating farmers' 'Delhi Chalo' call and march to the national capital to support their protest against the three central farm laws.

Independent MLA Balraj Kundu had withdrawn his support from the Haryana government citing corruption.

Meanwhile, the deadlock between the farmers and the Centre has not been resolved and the next round of talks is scheduled to take place tomorrow. Farmers have been protesting for the seventh day straight on the Singhu Tikri borders and have demanded rollback of the new farm laws.

The protesting farmers have expressed apprehension that the new agri-marketing laws enacted at the Centre will lead to the dismantling of the minimum support price (MSP) system, leaving peasants at the mercy of the big corporates.

The government, however, says the new laws give farmers options to get higher prices for their crops and the MSP regime will continue.

READ: Cong demands winter session of Parliament amid farmers protest

With PTI inputs