Frequency of communal statements on rise under BJP rule, says Pawar

Frequency of communal statements on rise under BJP rule, says Pawar

                                                                                   

     

NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Tuesday alleged that the frequency of issuing communally-charged statements in public has gone up after BJP assumed power at Centre.

"Some BJP MPs are trying to create fear by making communally sensitive statements. Who are they to make such statements?...The frequency of making such statements has gone up since BJP came to power. It is Constitution, laid down by Babasaheb Ambedkar. is the final authority and nobody is above that." Pawar said here while kicking off his party's campaign for October 15 Assembly elections.

Though he refrained from taking any names. Pawar's comment came close on (he heels of allegedly provocative statements made by the BJP MPs Yogi Adityanath atkl Sakshi Maharaj in Uttar Pradesh.

Pawar. whose NCP is an alliance partner with Congress in the ruling Democratic Front (DF) Government in Maharashtra and is at the helm for last 15 years, said that his party is contemplating a pension scheme for farmers,

"We warn farmers 10 lead comfortable lives anil that is why we are contemplating to provide a pension scheme in near future. We will also give a 75 per cent subsidy to farmers on irrigation." the NCP chief said, adding that the funds in Maulana Azad Scheme for the minority community. will be raised from Rs 500 crore lo Rs 2.000 crore.

NCP has high stakes in the strong hold of western Maharashtra region where the Mahayuti (grand alliance), led by BJP and Shiv Sena, is aggressively trying to make inroads. Addressing the rally. Pawar's nephew and Deputy Chief Minister Ajii Pa war said all toll nakas in Kolhapur will be scrapped within 100 days if NCP is elected to power once again.

"Some people have been demanding that loll be waived off in the state. But I had told Cidco and MMR DA that if they give us the required money, we will scrap all toll nakas. which didn't happen. But I assure you that if we come to power in the state we will ensure all toll nakas are scrapped in Kolhapur," he said.

The issue of charging the road tax has been a sensitive issue in this western Maharashtra district with the Shi v Sena taking an aggressive stand and a toll plaza had been burnt down in the past. In his address. Ajit appealed to party workers to not lose heart over the debacle of the party in Lok Sabha elections and asked them to not get boggled down by allegations raised by opposition and that reply them in the same coin.

Making light of the differences between Shiv Sena and BJP over allocation of seals to contest. Home Minister R R Patil said that both the parties should clear their stand on creation of separate Vidarbha State.

Posted in: News 2014