INLD, JJP plan separate events on Devi Lal’s birth anniversary

Tribune News Service
Hisar, August 23

The two political factions of the Chautala family will separately observe the birth anniversary of former Deputy Prime Minister Devi Lal for the first time after the split in the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) in December last.

Abhay Singh Chautala of the INLD on Friday announced a state-level function in Kaithal on September 25. Dushyant Chautala-led Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) decided to organise a similar event at Meham in Rohtak district the same day.

The JJP on Friday held a state-level coordination committee meeting in Hisar with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), its new partner. Dushyant said the two parties would jointly celebrate the birth anniversary in Meham on September 25 and the event would be attended by BSP supremo Mayawati.

Megh Raj of the BSP, who attended the meeting, said their coalition would storm to power in Haryana in the Assembly elections as people are fed up with the BJP government. Ajay Singh Chautala was present in the meeting.

Abhay announced that the INLD would organise a state-level rally in Kaithal on September 25 to mark the birth anniversary of his grandfather. He said the INLD had helped a number of people to emerge in state politics and those ditching the party would have to pay a heavy political price.

He said there would be no peace talks with the rebels who had formed the JJP led by his nephew Dushyant. He said there was no question of joining hands with traitors. He said the INLD was poised to return to power in the elections.