INLD, Jat samiti ally for mutual gains

Sunit Dhawan

Tribune News Service

Rohtak, June 18

Politics makes strange bedfellows. The old adage gets underlined with Haryana’s main opposition party, the INLD, and the All-India Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti (AIJASS) coming together.

The AIJASS leadership, which has already announced that it would oppose the ruling BJP in the Assembly elections next year, has started praising the INLD at public meetings. The INLD has been supporting samiti’s demand for reservation to Jats. And its support is not without a reason.

Leader of the Opposition Abhay Singh Chautala has announced a financial support of Rs 1 crore to the AIJASS for the construction of its coaching institute at Jassia village in Rohtak district. Several local leaders of the INLD, too, have contributed financially for the construction of rooms in the institute.

Besides, INLD workers sporting their trademark green turbans have been attending public meetings organised by the AIJASS. The backing by the INLD comes at a time when the AIJASS is facing erosion of its support base. In return, the INLD expects support of Jats in the Assembly elections. The party leadership has been attacking former Chief Minister and Deswali-Jat belt leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda, indicating that the party wants to make its presence felt in Rohtak, a Jat-dominated segment.

As the INLD recently joined hands with the BSP, the AIJASS started inviting members and leaders of Dalit community to its public meetings and making them address the gatherings.