Mumbai: Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Maharashtra unit chief Raosaheb Danve on Wednesday landed in yet another controversy after he abused farmers for questioning the government’s stand on tur procurement.
“This government has accepted to purchase one more lakh tonne tur . Saalein don’t stop crying even after that,” Mr. Danve said at a programme in Jalna. The politician was inaugurating Water Sanitation Minister Babanrao Lonikar’s public relation office.
The Opposition was quick to condemn the statement, saying the power has gone into his head. “By abusing farmers, Mr. Danve has rubbed salt into the farmers’ wounds. This is nothing but the arrogance of power. People will soon show the BJP its real place,” said Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee chief Ashok Chavan.
Tur production in Maharashtra went up from 4.44 lakh tonne in 2015-16 to 20.35 lakh tonne in 2016-17. As per the government estimate, the total purchase through its agencies is only around four lakh tonne, and approximately, 16 lakh tonne is yet to be bought. The government has fixed the MSP at ₹5,050 per quintal and has twice extended the deadline for purchase. The Centre had earlier refused to extend the deadline beyond April 22. But, last week, following Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ one more visit to Delhi, the Centre extended it till May 31.
