Farmers Movement Archive

PM Modi-Pawar discussed coop banks’ issues, vax drive; Maharashtra CM, Cong kept in loop: NCP

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar’s meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi on Saturday has raised speculations in the political circles. The NCP, however, said Pawar met Modi to raise concerns over the Banking Regulation Act amendments – which the party feels could jeopardise the autonomy of cooperative banks – and other issues. The meeting that took place at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) fuelled speculations in the backdrop of political events that have been happening in Maharashtra as well as the national Capital, along with the Enforcement Directorate’s action against NCP leaders Anil Deshmukh and Eknath Khadse. Besides Modi, Pawar also had meetings with defence minister Rajnath Singh and commerce and industries minister Piyush Goyal in Delhi in the past two days, ahead of the Parliament’s session that begins on Monday. Incidentally, former chief minister (CM) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Devendra Fadnavis was also in Delhi at the same time. Hours after PM and Pawar’s meeting, party’s national spokesperson and minorities affairs minister Nawab Malik addressed a press conference in Mumbai to clear the air. Malik claimed Pawar mainly discussed the amendments related to the banking regulations. He said that the new amendment in the Banking Regulation Act is expected to hit the cooperative banking sector very badly and thus PM has been requested to intervene to change the amendment as it will prove to regressive for the sector. Pawar also discussed the issue of vaccinations, said Malik.“Pawar’s meeting was scheduled earlier. Pawarsaheb met Goyal, BJP’s group leader in Rajya Sabha, on a courtesy call after the latter’s appointment as leader of the House. Meanwhile, yesterday [on Friday], Singh had convened a meeting at his office with two former defence ministers, one being AK Antony and the other being Pawar. People are linking these meetings for speculating about the MVA government in Maharashtra. But the speculations have no substance,” Malik said.He categorically clarified that there was nothing more to read out of it and that Pawar had already informed CM and Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Congress in-charge HK Patil about the meeting. The NCP, Shiv Sena and Congress are part of the ruling Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition. “CM was informed about the meeting by Pawarsaheb when they met two days ago. Similarly, Patil was informed about the meeting early this week. The meeting was scheduled to take place much before, but got delayed due to time constraint. Pawarsaheb had already spoken with PM over phone on the issues in the banking and cooperation sector, but the latter insisted upon a personal meet. Pawarsaheb also requested PM to formulate a policy to ensure the smooth supply of the vaccines to all states,” added Malik.On his twitter handle @PawarSpeaks , the NCP chief posted a copy of a letter submitted by him to PM. “Through a letter, I have drawn the kind attention of our Hon’ble PM towards issues and conflicts in the wake of certain developments in the co-operative banking sector (sic),” said Pawar in the post. Later in the day, Pawar tweeted, “I reiterated in the letter that the aims and objectives of the amended Act are well-intentioned, and many provisions are necessary. Erring board and management must definitely be acted upon strictly and the depositors’ interests should be protected. But at the same time, it should be ensured that while doing so, the co-operative principles laid down in the Constitution are not sacrificed at the altar of over-zealous regulation.”According to NCP insiders, Pawar requested PM to avoid ‘unwarranted’ action against the cooperative sector as well as against leaders from the ruling political parties in Maharashtra. On Friday, ED had attached properties worth ₹4.2 crore of former home minister and NCP leader Anil Deshmukh. Several leaders from MVA are facing ED probe.Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrakant Patil said, “I don’t think there will be any political upheaval in Maharashtra anytime soon as the three ruling parties know that they have no option but to stay united or else they will face dire consequences. I think there was nothing unusual in PM-Pawar meeting and it was a routine meeting ahead of the Parliament session. They must have discussed farm laws, proposed changes in the cooperative sector, reservation to OBCs and Marathas.”Political analyst Hemant Desai said that though NCP is claiming other reasons, the meeting between PM and Pawar has political implications behind it. “NCP has been ambiguous on many fronts and has never taken a strong stand against BJP and Modi. NCP had not opposed the farm bills in the Parliament and has also not cleared the air on Ajit Pawar’s swearing-in with Fadnavis for their 80-hour government. BJP is also in search of new allies ahead of the 2024 elections. So it would be wrong to say that there was nothing political in the meeting,” opined Desai. Malik said that NCP stands firmly with the other Opposition parties in both the Houses of the Parliament and will join hands with them to raise voice against the rising prices of fuel, inflation, vaccination issues, tension on borders and handling of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Hindustan Times

18-07-2021

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