Mumbai: Announcing that Shiv Sena would not hesitate even for a minute before quitting as an ally in the State government, party chief Uddhav Thackeray announced a farmers’ protest rally against the government in a month’s time to demand a farm loan waiver.
“We have come to know that the BJP is conducting a survey to check the possible outcome of mid-term polls. It has everything, but still wants more. Even that is fine, but [the party should] announce a farm loan waiver first. Shiv Sena is ready to offer outside support, and will ensure that the government does not fall. Instead of a poll survey, first conduct a survey to check why farmers are in a mess,” Mr. Thackeray said. He was addressing a farmers’ rally in Nashik.
The Sena president also announced a month-long campaign across the State demanding a farm loan waiver. This is in addition to the farmers’ agitations being undertaken by Opposition parties as well as various farmers’ organisations.
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Mr. Thackeray said that “every farmer in the State” as well as the party’s ministers will take part in the campaign. “I am not going to use the word agitation. I am not here to spread wildfire. But you are the ones who have to voice the simmering anger within you. It won’t take me even a minute to quit power. Only thing which I have to offer you is my support,” he said.
Mr. Thackeray said that despite being in power for two-and-a-half years, the government has not resolved the State’s problems. “Only faces have changed, but problems remain the same,” he said.
The Sena chief said the Chief Minister was completely different as an Opposition leader. Taking a dig at the Chief Minister’s statement about studying the Uttar Pradesh model of farm loan waiver for implementation in Maharashtra, Mr. Thackeray said, “He seems to have transformed into a scholarly student. We (Sena) are not ones to change our language after coming to power. We were like this before, and will remain the same even in future.”
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