‘People trust us as we do what we say’, says Om Prakash Chautala
Om Prakash Chautala (93), INLD supremo and five-time Chief Minister of Haryana, discusses his campaign for his son Abhay Chautala in Ellenabad. In an interview with Anil Kakkar, he highlights the failures of the current government, addresses key issues affecting the state and emphasises his belief in ideology over family in shaping Haryana’s future. Excerpts:
You are campaigning for your son Abhay Chautala in Ellenabad. How is the campaign going and what is the response from the people?
These locals are our own people and they know that the ruling party has only looted the state. The public is now standing against the government. They’ve harassed the elderly for pension, and inflation has made it difficult for the common man to even afford food. Schools lack teachers and hospitals lack doctors. People are in deep distress and now, everyone is calling for change. The INLD-BSP government will soon be formed.
The government now is focused solely on amassing wealth at the state and the central level. Policies and laws are being made to benefit a few selected individuals while emptying the pockets of ordinary people. Time has come for this to change. Om Prakash Chautala, INLD supremo
This election is being fought over issues concerning farmers, youth and wrestlers. What’s your take on that?
The current government has focused solely on making money, enriching the rich while making the poor poorer. Every section of society has suffered. Farmers can’t even recover the cost of their crops, and they aren’t getting fair prices. There’s no water in the canals and many farmers are forced to sell their land and send their children abroad. Here, the youth are unemployed. In the absence of jobs, they are turning to drugs and ruining their lives by getting involved in drug trafficking. When our government comes to power, we will introduce a special agricultural budget. We’ll waive the debts of farmers and ensure that all crops get Minimum Support Price (MSP).
The menace of drugs in Sirsa district is destroying families daily. What do you have to say about that?
The widespread unemployment, a result of the current government’s failures, is the reason behind the drug problem in Sirsa and across Haryana. In every speech, I talk about realising Chaudhary Devi Lal’s dream of a prosperous Haryana because we want a state where farmers and youth are thriving.
The Opposition Congress accuses INLD-BSP of acting as a ‘B-team’ of the BJP in the state. What do you say to that?
People know the truth about the Congress. Their internal conflicts have pushed them on the back foot completely. There’s no need for proof — the entire state is witnessing their infighting. People trust us because we do what we say.
How do you view the alliance between INLD, BSP and HLP? Will it stay intact even after the election results?
This is a strong alliance and will remain intact. A government for farmers and labourers will be formed in the country. In the state, Abhay Chautala will become Chief Minister, and in the country, Mayawati will be Prime Minister. Our agriculture-driven nation will again become prosperous on the global stage. Every candidate from this alliance contesting across the state is leading, and their victory is assured.
The Chautala family has influenced both state and national politics, but now, there seems to be disunity within the family. How do you view this?
We don’t believe in family. We believe in ideology. We are connecting people with our ideology and the joy is that people are joining us. The winds of change in the state are blowing because of this very ideology.
