At Chautala matriarch’s bhog, Badal urges clan to stay united

Sushil Manav

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 21

Will the death of former CM Om Prakash Chautala’s wife Sneh Lata reunite the Chautala clan which saw a spit with Ajay Chautala’s family constituting a separate political party Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) after walking out of the INLD last year?

This question has become pertinent after former Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal’s emotional appeal today at Chautala village Sirsa where he had come to attend the Bhog Rasam of Sneh Lata, who passed away on August 11.

Governor of West Bengal Jagdeep Dhankar, Speaker of Haryana Vidhan Sabha Kanwar Pal Gujjar and former Punjab Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal were among those who attended the meeting.

Addressing a gathering of the supporters of the Chautala clan who had gathered at the bhog ceremony of Sneh Lata at Chautala village today, Badal said he couldn’t see the Chautala clan split and wanted them to unite.

“Good and bad times come and go. The Chautala clan has seen the best of times in politics when Chaudhary Devi Lal was Deputy PM of the country and his elder son was Haryana CM. If the circumstances are not good for the family now, good times will come again. But for this, the family must unite so that Devi Lal’s name remains as great as ever,” said Badal.

The former Punjab CM went on to add that for the purpose of unity, one or the other would have to sacrifice and both sides should be prepared for it. Asking Chautala to intervene for bringing the families of Ajay Chautala and Abhay Chautala together, Badal said it would be in the best interests of all.

He said this would be the biggest tribute to the memory of Sneh Lata Chautala.

Badal’s suggestions were received with cheers by hundreds of followers of the Chautala family.

However, neithe OP Chautala nor any of his two sons Ajay and Abhay uttered any words on the issue of unity.