Cong, NCP playing politics over farmers’ issues: BJP

AURANGABAD: In a bid to counter the rising demands from opposition party leaders to declare the state drought-hit, state BJP president Raosaheb Danve on Sunday said the Congress and NCP are highlighting the issues of farmers only to gain political mileage.
“These parties have lost public support in the state, but their leaders are playing all possible tricks for their rejuvenation.Demanding the government to declare drought in the state is one such gimmick,” he said while addressing newsmen in the city.
Danve urged the party leaders to join hands to fight for the farmers’ cause. “Deficit rainfall has severely hit many parts of the state and the farmers are reeling under heavy pressure. Let us come together and help the farmers,” he said.
Danve said the state government would soon come out with an elaborate programme to deal with the situation in Maharashtra. “Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and other ministers are visiting the affected parts to ascertain the gravity of the situation,” he said.
Fadnavis recently visited the drought-affected parts of Latur, Osmanabad and Beed, while Danve went to some places in western Maharashtra, including Satara and Sangli. “The government is committed to provide all possible help, but the opposition party leaders have already begun the blame game. They are accusing the government of delaying the drought announcement. However, the primary report of ‘anewari’ is yet to come. It will be available by September 15,” he said.
Danve said the previous government had declared drought in the past only after receiving the final report of ‘anewari’ that is made available in January. “But our government will not wait for so long and take a decision based on the figures of the primary report,” he said.
Downplaying the demand of the Congress and NCP for restructuring of loans, Danve said it would not benefit the farmers.
However, the Congress has been saying that restructuring of loans would give a breather to the affected farmers.
Meanwhile, the NCP is set to launch a state-wide agitation from Monday to highlight the farmers’ issues. Former chief minister and state Congress president Ashok Chavan has also asked the BJP government to announce a special package for the farmers affected by drought.
For the past three years, Marathwadav, Vidarbha and some other parts of the state are reeling under drought-like situation.