The new alliance partners in Haryana, Indian National Lok Dal and Bahujan Samaj Party (INLD-BSP) on Wednesday demanded Rs 4,500 per acre compensation for farmers whose standing wheat crop has been gutted by fire.

In first joint Working Committee meeting of the combine in Kurukeshtra on Wednesday, both parties expressed anguish at the destruction of approximately 3000 acres of wheat because of fire and demanded that the government pay compensation to farmers.

The meeting attended by senior INLD leaders, including Leader of the Opposition Abhay Singh Chautala and in-charge of five State for BSP, Megh Raj, also condemned the state government for holding the Dalits responsible for violence during Bharat Bandh call of April 2 against the amendment in SC/ST Act.

The INLD-BSP asked the Government to release all Dalits falsely accused of indulging in violence. In another resolution grave concern was expressed over deteriorating law and order in the state.

“It had assumed alarming proportions since more and more women, particularly Dalits, and children are becoming victims of the emboldened criminals in the wake of ineffective policing and weak leadership,” the combine said in one of the five resolutions passed in the meeting.

On rising prices, the combine condemned the government for the high rate of Central and state tax on petroleum products.” While the state had levied 26.25 per cent tax on petrol and 17.22 percent on diesel, the housewives have to shell out Rs. 200 more during the BJP’s rule. In view of this, the joint working committee has demanded that the government lower VAT on both petrol and diesel and the Central government exclude cooking gas from the purview of GST to somewhat ease the pain of the people, ” a resolution said.

Both the parties expressed deep concern at the functioning of the corruption-ridden Haryana Staff Selection Commission (HSSC). They said that the manner in which the job racket in the HSSC has been exposed has shaken the confidence of the youth.

Therefore, they demanded that in order to restore faith in the fairness of the system, the Commission be dissolved immediately and a high-level inquiry into its functioning be instituted.