New Delhi: Upset with the attitude of senior BJP leaders, allies of the NDA are charting their own course.
A case in point is the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), which has launched an attack on the Central government after the Lok Sabha passed three crucial Bills: the Farming Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill.
Recently, the BJP’s oldest ally – Shiv Sena also severed its ties with the NDA.
After breaking the age-old relations, the Shiv Sena had accused the top leaders of the BJP of giving them less importance in the government. Now the Shiromani Akali Dal leaders are accusing the BJP of not listening to them on the issues of Bills related to farmers and they are now terming these Bills as anti-farmer.
It is interesting to note that despite the resignation of Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal, no one came forward to convince her on behalf of the BJP nor did anyone take the initiative to resolve the issue through negotiations.
On the other hand, the BJP is aggressive on these three Bills related to farmers and the government seems to be in no mood to withdraw these Bills under any circumstances.
Needless to say, the government would have visualised that after the introduction of these Bills, this situation could arise with regard to their allies. However, both the party and the government were prepared for this situation.
Also Read: Farm bills will free farmers from clutches of middlemen: Amit Shah
After the Shiromani Akali Dal, the BJP’s ally Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) leaders in Haryana have also met the state Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and expressed their objection to these Bills. But neither the government nor the party is willing to strike any deal with the NDA allies. It is a matter of fact that the government does not want to be on the back foot on these Bills even if its partners withdraw themselves from the NDA over these Bills.
In 2014, when Narendra Modi led BJP won the Lok Sabha elections by getting huge votes, he himself had said from the public forum that even though the BJP has got so many seats to form the government on its own, but despite this, those who are our old allies will get proper place and respect in his Cabinet because the BJP is the party that never forgets its old allies.
In 2019, under the leadership of Narendra Modi, the Bharatiya Janata Party got more than the seats the party had won in 2014 polls. Gradually, differences cropped up among their allies.
Now, the JJP in Haryana and the LJP in Bihar are asserting themselves.
In such a situation, the question arises that contrary to the statement of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, does the BJP not need its allies?
A senior party leader, on the condition of anonymity, said that the party is now exploring new possibilities and it is not necessary that the wrong terms and conditions of the allies should always be considered and accepted.
If sources are to be believed, the party is moving ahead at a very fast pace in its campaign of exploring new possibilities and identifying new allies in the south and the northeast states as well.
The party feels that apart from the traditional allies in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Punjab, it now needs to increase its own support base in the states where the party is likely to establish its own base as the BJP has always won in these old states.
The BJP feels that it can contest elections alone in the name of Narendra Modi in the states where the party is exploring new possibilities.
Paying attention to new allies will be more beneficial for the BJP. In days to come, the BJP is likely to replace old allies with new ones, who will be brought to the NDA fold.
Also Read: Punjab farmer commits suicide over farm bills
In this connection, the BJP’s national spokesperson Sudesh Verma says that all the Bills related to farmers are going to be laws.
These are to empower the farmers and the Bharatiya Janata Party cannot strengthen the middlemen.
The farmers will benefit from these laws. They will be able to get the adequate price of their crops, for which farmers have been provided with parallel power.
Verma said that the provision of minimum support price (MSP) will continue.
People are spreading confusion about this and the MSP will guarantee that the farmer gets the maximum price for their products and if they get more than the MSP in the market, they should also get it.
But the people are opposing it. It should be understood that those who are opposing these Bills are supporting the middlemen and not farmers.
Verma said that this is a very revolutionary step.
Parties are opposing this for their political reasons. The Bharatiya Janata Party will make farmers understand our point of view that these laws have been framed to strengthen them.
He further said that the Congress had said that the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 is a very outdated mechanism and should be operated only when there is an emergency.
"This is what the Bharatiya Janata Party has done. We have not repealed the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC). We have strengthened farmers so that they can stay strong even in the event of flood and drought," added Verma.
Also Read: Harsimrat Kaur resigns from Union Cabinet over farm Bills
