Gloom among INLD workers in Chautalas’ home district

Sushil Manav

Tribune News Service

Sirsa, March 5

The Delhi High Court’s verdict upholding conviction of former Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala, his son Ajay Singh Chautala and others in JBT teachers case has come as jolt for INLD workers in their home district.

A sense of gloom has engulfed villages dominated by the supporters of the former CM whose party INLD had won all the five Assembly seats in the last year’s Assembly polls in Sirsa district.

An air of expectation that had been blowing in INLD-dominated villages since yesterday immediately turned into gloom the moment television channels started flashing verdict of the Delhi High Court today.

“We were hoping that Chautala saab (OP Chautala) will be amongst us tomorrow to celebrate Holi with us and his family members. But the court verdict has dashed our hopes,” said Jasbir Singh Jassa, a state executive member of the INLD.

Jassa is among several other senior functionaries of the INLD who had decided against celebrating Holi this year.

“I have requested all friends and relatives not to visit my place to play Holi tomorrow,” he said.

Jassa said as citizens, the INLD workers respected the court verdict and they just hoped that their leaders would get relief in the Supreme Court now.

Amir Chawla, a former member of the Haryana Subordinate Staff Services Commission, also announced that he would not celebrate Holi this time.

Similarly, in the Dabwali Assembly segment represented by Ajay Singh Chautala’s wife Naina Singh and Ellenabad once represented by Om Prakash Chautala and now by the Leader of Opposition Abhay Singh Chautala, several INLD supporters have announced that they would not celebrate Holi this time.

Meanwhile, INLD MLA from Sirsa Makhan Lal Singla has congratulated people on Holi.

In email messages sent to mediapersons and others this afternoon, Singla wished that the festival of colours brought happiness to people’s lives.

Meanwhile, though the Delhi High Court today upheld the 10-year sentence of INLD supremo and his son Ajay, in the stronghold of his party in Jind, residents and party leaders have not lost all hopes as yet.

“We have full faith in the legal system and will approach the Supreme Court to get justice. It’s a false case and we will definitely get justice,” said Jind MLA Dr Harichand Middha, a close confident of senior Chautala.

Not only INLD leaders, even the common man appeared unfazed as they said Chautala and his family were fighters. “INLD workers are with the Chautala family. They are not like the supporters of other parties, who are only with the party in good days. No doubt such decisions may demoralise the party cadre, they will never leave the party,” said Sunder, an autorickshaw driver.

Workerspeak

Dashed hopes

}We were hoping that Chautala saab will be among us tomorrow. But the court verdict has dashed our hopes. I have requested relatives not to visit my place on Holi  —Jasbir Singh Jassa

Counting on SC

}We have full faith in the legal system and will approach the Supreme Court to get justice. It’s a false case and we will definitely get justice  —Dr Harichand Middha