Nationalist Congress Party president Sharad Pawar on Saturday threatened to take to the streets against the BJP-led governments in the State and at the Centre if they failed to go the rescue of distressed farmers.
“The farmers in the State are in a precarious condition. Our party will protest against the government if their problems are not solved,” Mr. Pawar said in Aurangabad district of the drought-hit Marathwada region.
It is the first time that Mr. Pawar has talked about any possible protest against the BJP-led governments ever since the new government took over.
Interestingly, there was speculation that the BJP and the NCP would join hands in Maharashtra last year after the Assembly election result was declared.
BJP leader and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had come to Mr. Pawar’s hometown in Baramati near Pune where former had praised the NCP chief.
Inspection tourMr. Pawar is on a two-day tour to inspect relief work undertaken by the government to aid the farmers who have suffered due to drought.
“The government must clear farmers’ loans and should extend all help for the kharif operations. The NCP will take up this issue with the ministries concerned in Delhi,” he said, adding that farmers suffered heavy losses and financial aid must be extended without losing time.
The NCP chief clarified that he was not seeking to make political capital out of farmers’ misery, but would launch protest if his demands were not conceded.
