Farmers Movement Archive

Fadnavis charges Cong, NCP with double standards

Nagpur: Referring to the support given by Congress and NCP to the farmers’ agitation in Mumbai on Monday, former state chief minister Devendra Fadnavis accused the two parties of double standards over farm policies. The Mumbai stir was staged to protest the three farm laws passed by the Centre last year. “The two political parties are doing drama and spreading wrong information over the issue on farmers' protest against the Centre's farm laws,” Fadnavis said here. Fadnavis, who is the leader of opposition in the state assembly, pointed out that it was the Congress-NCP government in the state, which allowed contract farming and direct purchase of farm products. He said so much time had passed since the farm bills were passed by the BJP-led central government last year but the state did not witness any protest against it. “I have a question for the parties supporting these morchas. Why Congress in its 2019 election manifesto said it would abolish market committees if it comes to power? The Congress and NCP should answer why they had approved the contract farming in 2006. They are okay with this such policies in the state, but do not want all over the country. Why these double standards,” Fadnavis asked. Fadnavis claimed 29 licences for direct purchase of farmers' produce were issued during the 15-year Congress-NCP regime. “It was the Congress-NCP government which started giving licences to corporates to purchase outside market committees in Maharashtra. The current central government is not doing it,” he said. “This is all drama and it has no support of farmers. On the contrary, the Shetkari Sanghatna led by late Sharad Joshi has welcomed all the three farm laws,” he said. Fadnavis along with several BJP workers staged a demonstration in Bhandara over various issues. He alleged that huge corruption has taken place in the purchase of paddy in Bhandara. “We never stopped paddy purchase during our tenure. Now, this government is demanding money from traders for issuing them license to purchase paddy,” he added. “The money, which farmers were to receive, has gone to others. Substandard material is being given to the Food Corporation of India (FCI). A huge crop scam has taken place in connivance with ruling party leaders,” he claimed. Fadnavis said they were also agitating against the state government for going back on its assurance of bearing the excess amount of inflated power bills of consumers. He claimed that most people were not in a position to pay the inflated bills due to the economic slowdown.

The Times of India

2021-01-26

Nagpur